Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age 2, this belongs to Bioware. This is just a Fan Fiction!
Please enjoy and Review.

Chapter 12: More than Magic.

Months pasted after the confession of Zola's lifetime and as she had predicted, everyone except Fenris, was treating her like a china doll that would have been highly prized in Orlias. Varric and Isabella were the worst with always electing to do everything for her. While Anders was not much of a bother, he would come to her house to give her a quick check over and see how the seal was holding up.

"Everything seems to be in order" Anders said as he packed his supplies back into his bag while Zola helped him with his cloak. Over the mouths Zola's stomach hadn't changed much and still seemed fairly flat to the untrained eye.

"Just keep doing what I've told you to do and..."

"Yes I know Anders, don't have too much Lyrium understood" Zola smiled as she smoothed the feathers on Anders's shoulders so that none of them would get up his hooked nose. Anders smirked as he lets out a soft laugh, his skin had pale from the lack of sunlight and his cheeks had sunken while his body still looked well built. Zola worried about him and would send off parcels of food for him, not knowing if he was eating them or giving it away.

"I'll check back again in a few weeks Hawke, be careful" Anders patted her shoulder. Zola's rolled her eyes.

"Anders I've got multiple bodyguards...I think I'm safe." Zola spoke as Anders smiled and walked off out of the door. Zola watched him go and wished she understood what was going through his mind; Anders seemed to have almost vanished into Darktown and kept things to himself a lot more. Zola sigh and took her cloak from the hanger and walked off outside.

The afternoon breeze was wonderful on her skin, the sun shone high as the leaves from near by trees floated down to the ground. Yet even though the day seemed perfect, Zola couldn't help but keep looking over her shoulder for bandits and rebels as well as Templars that were on the hunt for her. She had seen Meredith more and more over the past few weeks either to report to the First Enchanter or just simply bump into her, Meredith was always in her line of sight and it was starting to creep Zola out.

As she pasted by the Chantry that stood high, Zola wandered into the graveyard that lay in the shadows away from the public eye. Zola thought that the Chantry hated showing the graveyard to the people in case it sent the wrong message about the Maker. But Zola felt calm in this place and would usually talk to the odd spirit that needed help, but of all the spirits she wanted to see, she wanted to see her mother again just to ask her if she was doing the right thing. Zola's footsteps were careful and light as they graced the golden leaves that had fallen to the ground. Gravestones dotted the mounds of grass and flowers. Sounds from the city soon faded the further back into the graveyard she went, where she arrived at her mother's grave. Zola stared at the slab of rock that now represented her mother.

It read "Mrs. L. Hawke, treasured mother and sister, Taken by Magic." Zola gritted her teeth at the message her uncle left. The last three words stung her the most as she remembered her mother collapsing into her arms. Her spark of life flickering and fading while her mother said her finial words. Zola found it hard to remember the good times while she stared at her mother's grave.

"Mother…I don't know if you can hear me but…I'm doing it, carrying on the Amell line…not in the way you wanted though" Zola started to speak to the grave as she knelt down and looked at the small white flowers that bloomed at it's edge.

"I don't know how you managed to do it twice, though you weren't pregnant as long as I am…"Zola bit her lip as she touched the cold stone with her fingers. Its rough surface almost cut Zola's soft fingertips.

"I hope you can tell Bethany and Carver…that I'm alright and that they are going to be an aunty and uncle…Marker I feel foolish…talking to a rock" Zola laughed as she fingers traced the word "Hawke" etched into the surface.

"I hope your alright Mother…I hope your happy" Zola quickly stood up rubbing her eyes while she quickly made her way out of the cemetery. While the sounds of the city invaded her ears again she started to pull herself together, she wanted to see if Fenris was back from his mission from the Elves caves with Merrill, Fenris wouldn't allow her to go into the wilderness anymore just in case bandits did jump on her. As Zola pushed her way through the crowds of people, this was a time Zola thought that it was good not to be as big as a house. She tried to make her way through the never ending people without coursing too much commotion if it alerted her ever watching dwarven bodyguard. Although evading Isabella was easy enough Varric was harder to spot and run away from. Plus in a crowded place she couldn't just her special speed spell.

"I bet Varric did this on purpose" Zola thought as it seemed more people got in her way. She wondered if Varric had told one of his many famous lies to get the crowd into high town. Even so she managed to make it to the stairs leading towards Lowtown, Zola raced down the stairs in case anyone saw her.

)_)_)

Zola made it to the gates leading out to the wilderness and coast line, and none of her bodyguards were with her. In her champion armour she looked imposing and people would usually bow then quickly avoid her. She had her long brown hair pinned back which made her golden eyes look like bird eyes that could gaze into people's soul. Cold-Blooded almost oozed cold down her back as frost settled on her armour. Zola kept her eyes fixed on the path ahead, she missed Fenris when he was gone and she didn't understand why.

"Lady Hawke" A boy called out. Zola turned as her golden eyes looked at the Mage boy puzzled.

"Yes?"

"Please you must come quickly to the Chantry, Knight Commander Meredith has lost it" The mage explained as he could feel Zola's eyes breaking him down.

"What is she thinking now?" Zola muttered as she ran her fingers through her tied back hair.

"The First Enchanter is doing his best but he hopes you and the Grand Cleric will be able to talk her down" The boy ran off leaving Zola in a huff, for days Meredith had left Orsino alone and she pick today of all days to get angry about possible blood mages in the circle.

"Hawke?" A soothing voice came from behind her as she turned to see Fenris and Merrill standing at the gate. Zola face shined with happiness as she ran up to Fenris nearly pinning him to the ground as she hugged him. Merrill laughed at the lovey-dovey scene as Fenris wrestled with Zola to get her off him.

"Hawke come on your armour plus you is heavy" Fenris nearly shouted but Zola didn't care she was hugging her Fenris and loving the fact her was back in her arms.

"Awe...just a few more minutes before I have to go sort out Meredith" Zola whined as she clung on tighter to her elven lover. Merrill could help but burst aloud with laughter at the two.

"Found you" Varric's voice sounded from the other side of the courtyard as Zola then knew the party was over. Varric and Isabella came stomping over as Zola braced for yet another telling off.

"Kitten...you are in so much...Why are you two on the floor?" Isabella sudden wide-eyed expression was priceless to Zola that she got up and dusted herself off.

"Well why not? I missed Fenris" Zola smirked as she started walking off leaving Fenris lying on the ground.

"Oh, no you don't. Come back here" Varric ordered but Zola just waved her hand.

"I have to go to the Chantry to deal with Meredith...I think she's on her time of the month and taking it out on Orsino...poor soul." Zola shouted back as everyone followed. Along the way they picked up who they were missing, meaning Anders got dragged away and Avaline wanted to keep an eyes on Isabella just in case. Retracing her steps was easy for Zola and she knew this city like the back of her hand, the group even knew little alleyways they could use, but getting to the Chantry was pretty straight forward and clear.

)_)_)

But all did not look or seem well when the streets were cleared and more areas were set on fire. Zola sensed that something was not right, not with the area and no enemies were showing themselves. But the problem she sensed was within her own friends, Anders and Justice were battling for dominance within Ander's mind, she didn't show that she knew but the aura's surrounding them was heavy. Shouting came from up ahead as she entered the courtyard.

"I will have the tower searched. Top to bottom."

"You cannot do that you have no right"

"I have every right, you are harbouring blood mages and I intend to root them out before they infect this city." Meredith barked as Zola approached rolling her eyes, it was the usual debate.

"Blood magic...where do you not see blood magic. My people cannot sneeze without you accusing them of corruption" Orsino was at the end of his rope as Meredith sneered.

"Do not trifle with me mage my patience is at an end" Now Zola was worried Meredith had always backed down before, but something was off about her. The sensation felt familiar and the tingling along her skin was driving her crazy.

"No wonder I never saw it begin" Orsino spoke as he waved off her last statement.

"Why are you fighting again?" Zola asked as she looked down on both the first enchanter and Knight Commander. Meredith's eyes grew narrow at the sight of her while Orsino sighed with relief.

"This does not involve you Champion" Meredith nearly spat venom as she spoke. Making Zola a bit nervous at her sudden temper change.

"I called her here" Orsino spoke as Meredith gritted her teeth. "I think the people deserve to know what you've done."

"What I've done is protect this city. What I've done is protect you mages from your own stupidity." Meredith turned to Orsino but Zola knew that the last remark was made for her. Zola folded her arms and sighed at the scene, she knew that the Grand Cleric would have to settle this, but she still preferred to have them both locked up. As Meredith and Orsino argued even more Zola heard her name being mentioned.

"The Champion knows all too well how corrupt the Circle is" Meredith shouted making Zola pay attention.

"Don't bring my life into this" Zola thought as she wanted this to stop. "There must be some way we can settle this" Zola spoke calmly although she didn't feel calm...so many things didn't feel right.

Meredith gave her puppy eyed look and spoke about how she doesn't know other ways than what she has been taught, talking about possessed mages and how they meant no harm. But to Zola it was the same lecture she had heard for almost all her life and it was getting tiresome.

"Champion, you know the horror we face, what blood magic can do" There she went again, bringing Zola's life into the picture.

"You can't use the actions of one to condemn them all" Zola spoke biting back her own venom knowing that part of her always wanted to say that to Fenris in the past.

"The Grand Cleric will sort this out" Orsino started for the stairs as Meredith grabbed his arm and gave him a frosty look.

"You will not bring her Grace into this" Meredith hissed.

"The Grand Cleric cannot help you" Anders's voice came from behind Zola, making her turn and feel that something was about to go wrong. She saw the sadness in Anders's eyes when he looked over to her, what had he done?

"Explain yourself mage!" Meredith marched over as if she was about to claim her prize.

"I will not back down while you treat every mage like a criminal while the ones who lead us bow down to their templar jailors" Ander slammed his staff to the ground making sparks fly.

"How dare you speak to me..."

"The Circle has failed us Orsino" Another slam of his staff, Zola thought of any spells that required staff slamming on the ground. Wait why was she thinking of that at a time like this? Zola shook her head and looked at Anders whose aura was raging fiercer than ever.

"Even you should be able to see that. The time has come to act, there can be no half measures" Anders looked away as though he was ashamed to even look at Zola.

"Anders what have you done?" Zola asked as she placed a hand on Anders's shoulder, she saw tears fall down his sunken cheeks as his almost hollow eyes looked at her to ask her forgiveness.

"There can be no turning back" Anders whispered. Suddenly the ground started to shake; Zola lost balance as she stumbled away from Anders. Fenris caught her before she hit the ground.

"What's going on?" Isabella shouted as the ground shook even more. Zola's senses heightened to a point she had never felt them before, power was building but from where? She gripped Fenris's arm and looked into his eyes as if she was about to die. Fenris's jaw tightened as he held Zola closer to his chest, she could hear his heart beat as though it was in tune with the rumbling of the earth.

"What in the Maker's name is going on?" Varric screamed as Zola looked on to the Chantry. All of a sudden a bright red light burst out from the building, stones falling and statues crumbling. Zola could only watch in horror as the beam gathered the stone blocks of the Chantry, for a moment time seemed to slow down. Zola saw everything, the horror on everyone's faces as they looked up at the destruction. Meredith and Orsino looking on as if what they were seeing wasn't real. Anders stood still as if he wanted to get hit by one of the falling stones. Zola watched Anders and for a moment their eyes locked, all she saw was how much he was sorry to her, that she should never have been involved. Zola's heart sank when she knew why he truly needed the Drake scale and other items he needed a while back, it wasn't to separate himself from Justice...it was to create this hell.

The beam calmed for a moment before it spat away the rocks it was holding, across Kirkwall. Zola stood as she looked at the carnage round her. All this was to free mages? Anders was a fool, now he would have to be put to death by Meredith's hand, but she couldn't let that happen. No matter what Anders did, he was still her friend.

"Marker have mercy" Meredith spoke in a hushed tone while everyone looked towards the gaping hole where the Chantry once stood.

"There can be no peace" Anders spoke. Zola became enraged and wanted to kill Anders for saying that. All that she had been working for was peace between Templars and Mages, she believed with all her heart and soul that they could understand one another and live together. But Anders destroyed that dream.

"What have you done?" Orsino shouted at Anders.

"I removed the chance of compromise because there is no compromise" Anders stated as everyone was still reeling from what happened.

"The Grand Cleric has been murdered by Magic...the Chantry destroyed..." Meredith spoke in a trance. "As Knight Commander of Kirkwall I invoke the Right of Annulment, every mage in the circle is to be slain." Meredith ordered and with that Zola's mind was shattered, she was a mage outside the circle, even though she was champion she was a mage...Anders had sentenced her and her unborn child...to death.

"The Circle didn't even do this!" Orsino shouted trying to make Meredith see reason. Zola's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Anders, next thing everyone saw was Zola on top of Anders punching his chest and shoulders, screaming as tears on his face. Anders tried to protect himself from the onslaught of fists from Zola but even he couldn't block her attacks.

"YOU IDIOT ANDERS...YOU'VE DOOMED EVERYONE...YOU'VE DOOMED YOURSELF...YOU'VE DOOMED ME!" Zola screamed through her tears, this wasn't how the Champion of Kirkwall should be acting in front of the Knight Commander and First Enchanter but she didn't care. All she saw was Anders and the blown up Chantry. Fenris finally pulled Zola off Anders and pulled her close to his chest, Zola wailed into his chest as her body tremble at the thought of her baby dying before it could be born. Fenris held her tighter as he snarled at Anders who had picked himself up off the ground.

"Champion you must help us" Orsino begged to Zola who was trying to calm down.

"And I demand you stand with us" Meredith ordered.

Zola's head was spinning from everything that was happening, she was never pro mage or pro Templar but now she had to choose. Siding with the Templars meant betraying who she was, and betraying Bethany. While siding with the mages meant she would have started a war. She felt Fenris's grip tighten on her shoulder, Zola's head felt heavy as she lifted her head to meet his gaze. Tears still feel from her eyes but Fenris's gaze was strong giving her messages of hope.

"Fenris" Zola whispered as Fenris wiped away her tears with his metal talons.

"Whatever you choose, I will be with you always" Fenris calmly with his voice vibrating through Zola. A smile tugged at Fenris's lips making Zola smile herself, Fenris always had a way to making Zola see the right path.

"Thank you" Zola whispered as she smiled. She turned to Meredith and Orsino, her determination was seen within her eyes as they sparked with anger. She felt as though she was at the cross roads of a river, one path was smooth and safe while the other was rough and choppy. But sometimes the rough and choppy waters can lead you to the most beautiful places.

"I won't let her slaughter all of you" Zola finally spoke as she saw Orsino smile with relief.

"Think carefully Champion" Meredith growled as Zola narrowed her eyes.

"I've made my decision" Zola growled. Meredith snarled and ordered her men to kill them. Templars appeared from everywhere and started to attack. Zola's ice storm ripped through the air giving cover for everyone to escape or hide. Orsino and his mages took cover amazed by the power she was commanding with such a simple spell. Vines appeared from the ground as Merrill crushed the Templars while Isabella stuck close to Merrill and Varric taking out Templars that they missed. Fenris stuck by Zola in case the ice storm didn't freeze all of them. After the Templars had been defeated Zola looked round for Orsino.

"First Enchanter. Are you alright?" Zola walked over to him as Orsino looked at the carnage round him. His face dropped with sadness and despair, the other mages ran to the Gallows to collect their fellows while Zola and Orsino talked.

"So it's come to this" Orsino spoke as Zola stood behind him.

"I don't know if we can win this champion but...thank you" Orsino looked as though he was trying to think of happier times to shield himself from the destruction. But when his eyes settled on Anders, anger flared in his eyes.

"I'll leave your friend here for you to deal with...I will return to the Gallows...meet me there" Orsino ran off leaving Zola and everyone behind. The scene would have made Zola break if it wasn't for the fact that she was in protection mode. Her eyes rested on Anders and silently she walked up behind him, he still couldn't face her and truthfully she didn't want to see his face.

"There's nothing you can say that I haven't already said to myself" Anders started as he kept his eyes on the ground. "I took a spirit into myself and changed myself forever to achieve...this" He waved his hand at his handy work like he just wanted to be rid of it already.

"If you told me...I might have understood" Zola spoke flatly, she couldn't hold any life in her words because of what he did. She didn't condone what he did...Maker she hated it. He killed innocent people to get his message across.

"I wanted to tell you...but what if you wanted to stop me...or worse wanted to help" Anders answered.

"I would have tried to make you think of other options instead of this" Zola shouted making Anders's head snap to face her. Tears fell again but she didn't care, she was so angry she couldn't describe it.

"The world needs to see this, so we can stop pretending that the Circle is a solution" Anders stared into her eyes as Zola's fist shacked.

"I know I deserve to die for what I've done" Anders gazed into her eyes but all he was getting was glaring from Zola's golden orbs. "If I do die...I'm glad it's you" Anders ran his finger along her jaw line making her freeze in place but a sudden sound of clattering pots and burnt wood rose when Fenris was about to charge at him, only to be stopped by Isabella.

"Yes you do deserve to die" Zola whispered as her eyes were held to the ground. Anders held his breath as he waited for one of her spells or her herb knife she kept with her. He closed his eyes and waited only to be greeted with a pain in his jaw. Anders fell to the ground and looked up at Zola. Zola stood over him as she held her fist close to her chest.

"You deserve to die for the sin you have committed but you can right that wrong...by helping me save the mages" Zola held out her hand for him to get up. Anders looked puzzled at first but soon realising that even though Zola had killed many people, she couldn't kill one of her dearest friends. He thought that she might have banished him from her sights but her eyes held a light of kindness that calmed him. Anders took Zola's hand and rose to his feet, as he dusted himself down he looked round him at the destruction he caused...he truly was an idiot.

"I'll help you...damn right I will." He smiled as Zola's radiant smile returned to her face.

Zola was happy that Anders was going to help her; she needed everyone besides her to get through this horror.

"Good. Come on lets..." Zola was cut off as she felt something warm on her lips. When her vision became clear from the surprise she found Anders kissing her. Zola backed off from the kiss with her lips still tingling from the feel.

"Wha...Anders..." Zola stuttered as she looked confused and scared. Anders realised what he did but before he had the chance to say sorry, Fenris was on top of him with his sword at Anders's neck.

"You crossed a very thin line mage" Fenris growled as he pressed the blade down on Anders's neck. Anders looked stunned still trying to figure out why he did kiss Zola.

"Guys I don't think it's time to be fighting each other" Isabella spoke up.

"Why not? Meredith invoked the right of Annulment; I should use it on this mage for kissing my woman" Fenris spoke with a murderous tone.

"Because Zola is walking away...in a daze...swaying her hips...going to get killed" Isabella ran off after Zola. The other followed suit as Fenris glared at Anders, saying that it wasn't over.

Zola walked on ahead with her hand on her lips; she could still feel Anders's rough lips against them and the tingling wouldn't settle. She wondered if because Justice was inside Anders, that she could feel his spirit energy. Zola shook her head knowing she couldn't think about it, she decided to wait for the others to catch up. When she looked she noticed that she was heading towards the docks, well at least she knew where she had to go but what really surprised her were all the frozen statues that she hadn't seen on the way in.

"When did these appear?" Zola asked herself as she studied one of them. Noticing that the statue was a Templar about to fight a mage, Zola knew what happened.

"I spaced out again" Zola was vex herself, lately she would space out in the dining room at her home and when she snapped out of it the whole room would be covered in snow. Zola put it down to when she spaced out she was in so much deep thought that her cold magic would just ooze from herself and she wouldn't even feel it. Other than that it did come in very useful.

"You know I'm glad you're easy to find" Varric was the first one to appear with Isabella behind him.

"You creating art again Kitten?" Isabella joked as she tapped on one of the Rage Demon statues that looked as though it was lunging towards her. Zola only smirked as she shrugged her shoulders. The others caught up a short time later and Zola told them her plan. They had to get to the Gallows to stop Meredith but she was also worried about the people in the city. Avaline told them that she would order her guards to protect the people while the others went on ahead. Zola nodded and picked herself up, in the corner of her eyes she saw Anders and the tingling sensation returned to her lips but she blocked it out and rushed to the docks. Zola was greeted to a battle field with a pride demon and several Templars. Zola unclipped Cola-Blooded from her back, the Templars turned to face her as they realised who she was they pointed their weapons hesitantly. Varric scoffed at the young Templar with the crossbow, as his grip was loose and his arms shaking at the mere sight of Zola.

"Amateur" Varric muttered as he pointed Bianca but Zola held her hand to halt him. She eyed the young boy as she shot a purple orb at his chest; the boy fell to the ground with a thud.

"Don't kill them, we've already got enough blood on our hands" Zola told everyone as they sprung into action. Knocking the Templars out with sleep spells and bashing them over the head seemed to work. Zola was glad that she could use her spells for a simple task but when she came upon the Pride demon that was lurking round the corner, Zola summoned the spirit of strength from the fade. Her eyes shone a bright golden yellow as yellow flames round her feet. The seal protested against the use of this magic but Zola knew she had to use it, with the minimal amount of spells she could use she would be at her limit with major spells like her usual soul split.

"What a rare gift you have human" The pride Demon snarled as he swung his arm. Zola blocked his hand with hers, sending a shockwave through the area when they connected. Anders looked over at Zola and saw the yellow flames engulfing her but she wasn't in pain or looked as though she was about to transform. Fenris watched her as he knocked out the last of the Templars. He knew this was an evolution of Zola's magic that she rarely used.

"That time I came for you on the beach, everyone thought that I was going to become an Abomination" Zola explained one night as she set aside the little black book that Orsino gave her.

"But you didn't" Fenris spoke softly as he held her hand.

"No this was different; somehow I summoned a spirit and a demon at the same time and used their power to save you." Zola clutched his hand as she closed her eyes and bit her lip.

"I don't know how I did it, but this book is meant to explain it to me" Zola spoke as she looked at the little black leather bound book.

"What have you learnt?" Fenris asked.

"Only that it's rare...but I can only do it for a few moments without truly accepting the spirit or demon into my body, the only reason I could do it last time for the length of time I did was because I so focused on saving you and making sure you were alright" Zola looked into his eyes as her golden orbs shone in the fire light. The image of her face was burnt into his mind; he knew that she would need to kill the demon soon.

Meanwhile Zola was blocking every attack that the pride demon threw at her and knocking him back into the walls making them crumble to the ground. The pride demon snarled and sent out it ice and fire magic but Zola swung her staff and split the magic asunder as she formed a blade with the fire that was surrounding her. The demon snarled but Zola jumped a slammed the blade of the sword into the demon's chest as it let out a shrieking sound. Zola snapped out of her trance, letting the flames die down as she hopped down off the pride demon. The creature lay on the cold ground as its black blood poured from the open wound. The others ran up to her and saw the carnage round her.

"Come on, to the boats" Zola smiled as they made their way across the docks. To Isabella's dismay the boats they took were only cargo ships and not the grand vessels that she was used to. Fenris, Varric and Zola took one while the others took the other boat across. Zola could hear Isabella shouting orders at the others to man the sail and swab the deck, with several protests from Anders. Zola smiled but she heard the sounds of battle from the Gallows ahead and the certain doom fell upon her mind, would she be able to bring everyone out alive and will she be able to stay in Kirkwall after the battle. It was much her home now than Lothering was.

The boat rose to shore as Zola and the others jumped out of the boat and marched towards the Gallows. The scene was that of a war ground when it met her eyes, fire burnt the walls and bodies while blood stained the ground. The smell of burning flesh hung in the air as Zola tried to block it out.

"Champion you made it" A voice rung from across the courtyard, Zola looked and saw Orsino fighting off the rest of the Templars in the area.

"First Enchanter" Zola cried out as she ran over to him. When they met Orsino looked at Anders with a glare.

"Champion are you sure?" Orsino whispered but Zola patted his slender shoulder and smiled.

"We need all the help we can get...even Anders's" Zola spoke but as she did her smile fade, Zola turned to see Meredith and the rest of her Templar order. Zola felt her stomach tighten as if she knew that the deciding battle was drawing close. Zola put herself between Orsino and Meredith as Meredith strolled over to them.

"Let us speak Meredith, before this battle destroys the city you claim to protect" Orsino shouted.

"I will entertain a surrender nothing more." Meredith said as she stopped in front of Zola and Orsino. It was then that Zola felt their auras clash like a tide of the sea.

"Speak if you have something to say" Meredith dismissed Orsino as Zola stepped away thinking that they might be able to sort this out.

"Revoke the right of Annulment, Meredith. Before this goes too far" Orsino almost begged while Meredith seemed to look on.

"Imprison us if you must, search the tower...I will even help you, but do not kill us all for an act we did not commit" Orsino tried to negotiate as he aimed the blame to Anders who seemed to hide behind Zola.

"The Grand Cleric is dead. Kill by a mage. The people will demand retribution and I will give it to them" Meredith said coldly almost as if any emotion had left her body and now she was just a walking husk spewing out words that seemed foreign to her.

"Your offer is commendable Orsino, but it comes too late" Meredith spoke again with a same cold tone.

"We can still prevent this. Before you both tear Kirkwall apart." Zola reasoned hoping that they wouldn't fight.

"You heard her, she's been wanting this all along" Orsino spoke up with sadness in his voice as his eyes seemed to drop. Zola knew that he spoke the truth.

"I suppose I shouldn't have expected no less from you Champion, standing with your own kind." Meredith sneered as Zola's anger rose slightly. Zola motioned Orsino to move into the circle to prepare for the battle. Meredith sensed what they were doing a motioned for the Templars to do the same.

)_)_)

Zola sighed as she watched the mages prepare what little courage and determination they had to fight off the incoming threat. Anders and Zola healed any injuries that the team and the mages had, most of them were grazes and sword slash marks but Anders dealt with the most serious. Lyrium was running low and the seal protested to Zola making her feel light headed. As she treated Fenris for his head wound and grazed arms, her vision blurred. Fenris sensed the strain she was under and held her shoulder.

"Hawke you must rest" Fenris urged but Zola shook her head in protest.

"You can fight with annoying wounds" Zola looked at him with pleading eyes but Fenris's grip tightens as his eyes overpowered hers until she felt like putty in his hands. Fenris was surprised that he had such power over possibly the most powerful mage he had encountered. Zola obeyed the silent command of her lover and rested against his leg while he ran his talons through her hair. Silently Zola wished that she could stay like this, a moment of peace within a city full of mayhem.

"Here I am about to defend mages in a hopeless battle" Fenris spoke, breaking the silence that had enraptured them. Zola looked up at him with confusion.

"You lead me to strange places Hawke" Fenris smiled as she heard his faint laugh. Zola smiled as she stood up and brushed her thighs of dust.

"I'll take you to stranger places than this...just watch" Zola smiled coyly as the light in her eyes shone again like she was about to fight bandits or about to discover something in one of the abandoned caves that she liked. Fenris smiled as rose to meet her eyes.

"A tempting offer." Fenris's voice became gruff and low as he held her hand. Zola laughed softly as she looked into his eyes until Fenris looked away.

"I may not get another chance to say this...meeting you was the most important thing that ever happened to me Hawke" Fenris spoke as he looked into Zola's eyes. Fenris couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful she looked in the fire light as it danced across her face and flickered in her eyes.

"Promise me you won't die, I can't bear the thought of living without you" Fenris muttered as he gently pulled Zola closer to him running his fingers through her silky brown hair.

"I don't make that promise unless you do" Zola spoke awaking something in Fenris.

"Nothing is going to keep me from you" Fenris growled as he pulled her to crash his lips against hers. Zola pulled him closer to her body as his armour nipped at her arms and his teeth bit her lips. The lust was almost oozing from the couple as they embraced and kissed each other, the others tried to look away to give them some privacy but it wasn't easy to look away.

Fenris broke away and as Zola pulled away she felt her body almost spring to life and her magic returned in a rush she couldn't imagine. Her eyes shone with the life of magic and her magic sparked from her fingers. As she looked at Fenris she saw that she had bit down on his lip releasing some of the Lyrium embedded into his skin. Zola blushed as she quickly healed the small wound.

"Feel better" Fenris tease as she gave a slight glare at him.

"I'm not meant to have a lot of Lyrium doctor's orders" Zola scolded but Fenris grinned and put his hand on the seal.

"I think it's best to sometimes ignore doctor's orders." Fenris smiled as Zola smiled back.

)_)_)

Zola made sure that her team was ready for what was to come; each had what they were meant to do. Anders was to hang back and heal anyone that got wounded while taking down some Templars that got towards Orsino. Isabella was to use the shadows and strike from behind while everyone was to be...bait.

Zola knew it wasn't her best plan but it was all she could come up with and the others seemed to read it. As she turned she heard the Templars ramming the doors of the Circle down, screams of the other mages hiding in their rooms came as it tore at her heart, they couldn't be saved but she wished she could. Suddenly Templars poured through the doors and ran towards her. But Zola wouldn't give them the pleasure of getting to cut her. She summoned an unfamiliar magic to her, buried deep down within her soul, she thought of Dragons and the sun, she thought of love and passion. She thought of the heat between her and Fenris three years ago as she summoned a blazing wall of fire to trap the Templars. The fire gave off a heat that would have melted the blade of swords if it could. Everyone stared in amazement but Zola struggled to keep the wall alight. Fire was not her element but she needed to hold off the Templars, they pushed through the fire as the others sprang into action. Templars fell from Isabella's daggers and Merrill's spells like leaves falling off the trees. Varric nailed a few to the stone pillars while Fenris protected Zola from the onslaught. Zola didn't expect the fire to be easy to control but she felt her mind loosing grasp.

Slowly the Templars gave up and ran back to Meredith. Zola gave a sigh and let the fire die down but when she looked round her, most of the mages from the circle had died. Zola cursed herself as the scene of death was once again surrounding her.

"There is no hope" Orsino whispered as he looked at his dead pupils. Zola walked towards him slowly.

"Why don't they just drown us at birth?" Orsino asked. Zola had always thought the same, if no one wanted mages in the world way not just kill them as children instead of making them tranquil or kept locked up in the Circle. Her father always said that it was because of a parents love for their child that kept them from doing the most sinful thing in the eyes of the Maker. She never understood until now, if her child was to be a mage she would protect her child from the Circle or worse to try and give her child a normal life.

"Meredith wants blood magic" Orsino turned with a blade in his hand as Zola snapped back to reality.

"First Enchanter!" Zola cried but it was too late. Orsino slit his hand as the blood poured out from the wound.

"The research was too evil, too wrong to use but now I know, it's the only way" Orsino spoke as the bodies moved round him.

Zola looked away as soon as Orsino and the corpses started to merge. Now everything had gone horribly wrong, they had lost their strongest alley...to the pressure of Meredith. Zola looked up at the creature that now stood in Orsino's place. It was a disturbing creature of flesh, as the etched faces of horror plastered it body, odd limbs protruded from its back and shoulders. Zola lost all sense of reality; there was no smell, no noise, nothing. The monster stepped towards her as her aura of cold had returned and seemed to hurt the creature.

"That's it! Hawke use your ice storm" Ander and Varric shouted in unison and as soon as it clicked with her, Zola's eyes shone an icy white while her staff rattled from his binding, the ice flew from her hands and the tip of her staff, engulfing the area round her. It was the strongest her ice storm had ever felt but she felt so empty and low at that moment that it seemed to feed off her emotions. Snow formed in the storm and fell on the cold ground, ice wrapped round the creature as it screamed and wailed in pain trying to escape its torture. Zola felt as if it wasn't going to be enough, this wasn't going to be enough to purge the evil that it was. She reached for her stomach and tore open her clothing.

The scene from outside the ice storm was even more terrifying, everyone was holding their breath as they waited for the result. They expected Zola to make her ice storm to weaken the abomination so that they could attack but for Zola to engulf herself and the creature in such a storm where they could see anything and only hear the painful screams of the creature was torture for them. Soon the storm died reviling Zola fine and well while the monster was stood in a solid ice block. Everyone's jaw nearly hit the ground.

Zola turned to face them with her usual "sorry guys, did I go overboard again" look on her face. But as she started to walk towards them, Zola felt her feet slide on the ice that now covered most of the ground and she fell backwards to the ground as she lay out on the ground. Everyone looked at the Champion and burst out laughing (even Fenris was laughing) as Zola picked herself up off the ground and gave them in evil glare but couldn't help but bursting out into a fit of laughter herself.

"If you guys think it's so funny maybe you should have a go" Zola gave an evil glint in her eye as suddenly everyone felt her force magic push them on to the icy ground making them slide and slip making Zola burst out laughing.

"Kitten this isn't...AHH!" Isabella fell on the cold ground.

"Hawke please...I wasn't made for the snow" Varric pleaded while he steadied himself on the ice.

"Alright" Zola smiled as she melted the ice round their feet.

"Come on, we have Meredith to deal with" Zola seemed up beat as she strode towards the door. But everyone saw the ripped clothing round her stomach and wondered what she had done.

NEXT CHAPTER OUT SOON! SOORY THIS ONE TOOK SO LONG!