Chapter 36

Some days before the gathering at the Hanged Man, to be precise the early morning after the battle.

Orsino looked around at the mages who, just like him, were trapped and stared expectantly at him to find a solution. 'We can't get out,' he said flatly.

He had tried magic on the blocked door but as he had already feared, the mighty and evil magical power on the other side absorbed it all. He feared he would only make it worse with his actions and he had stopped wielding spells. There was no other way out. This was the only entrance to the rest of the Gallows and eventually to Kirkwall; the only windows in the Circle were set high in the walls and were barred. The ground plan was thoroughly thought through. After all, in former days this had been a prison. Besides that, the only thing that awaited them if they, against all odds, would succeed in climbing out, would be the sea. Or worse, the sharp rocks at the foundation of the building. There was no escape whatsoever.

The mages sat all huddled together, listening with pale faces and frightened eyes to the silence that now and again got disturbed by tinkling and creaking noises as if masonry had been heated up and now was cooling down. Sometimes there sounded a sudden sinister rumbling noise in the distance as if a whole section of a wall or ceiling came crashing down and the tower shuddered on such occasions.

'First Enchanter, is the Circle going to collapse?' one of the mages eventually asked bashfully.

'Are we going to die here?' another one piped up terrified shortly after that first question.

'What has happened?' several voices cried almost at the same time, taken up courage after the first two wavering questions.

Orsino realised panic was about to break out. 'I don't know what has happened,' he snapped irritably. He tried to relax at the same moment and with force checked his temper. 'We all have to try to stay calm,' he continued soothingly, 'I don't know what has taken place but I'm sure help is on its way at this very moment.'

And that help would be his death warrant, he knew all too well. He had no illusions about his fate. He looked balefully at Keran who was still lying motionlessly on the floor. The other mages had cast anxious looks upon the young Templar but hadn't dared to do something about his condition, not even the healers. Orsino knew they thought this tight situation was more or less the lad's doing and he hadn't said anything to deny it. They were afraid, he could almost smell it. But of course this mess wasn't the boy's fault. He closed his eyes. He had wagered and lost. Twice. He knew he was doomed.

The Keep was a classic example of organised chaos – again. But this time the mood was far more grave than after Meredith had spoiled Hawke's and Fenris's wedding; the big difference was that there were a lot of dead to mourn. And no courage to work up; the battle was already fought and the adrenaline spent. Many brave men and women had fallen, Guardsmen, Templars, militia and elves alike, and many more were injured. The Viscount's throne room had been changed into an improvised field hospital and the healers among the mages were doing what they could to save lives, treat the wounded and lessen their pain.

Among them was Merrill who had no real healing capacities but she did her best to put her people from the Alienage at ease and to save them. At last, a bit late, she considered them her people. And saw herself as one of them. And Sebastian did the same for the humans who needed his consolation. After some time Her Grace turned up herself to mingle with the injured and desperate. Even the wounded elves got her attentions and they were grateful for it. Aveline frowned but without any comment let Elthina get her way. As long as it pleased and helped the injured she was fine with it.

It was Fenris, of all people, who had saved Marius and had brought him to the Keep. He had found him on the battlefield, lying for dead somewhere in a square close to the Viscount's Way. And after Aveline had told how great a help the Tevinter mage had been in the battle, how he had been willing to squander his life for the people of Kirkwall and after she had vehemently forbidden Anders to kill him, the mage himself had taken care of him, though rather grudgingly at first. After he was convinced Marius would live, he took up once more his task as supervisor and coordinated the work that had to be done. Inevitable at some point Elthina and Anders met. Or perhaps it was better to say they collided. They stared at each other for a heartbeat, feeling quite awkward.

'I do appreciate the work you do,' Elthina said after a strained silence. 'I know you have been fighting vigorously down at the Gallows and back here and now you're putting all your left energy in saving lives.' She graced him with a brittle smile. 'Very worthy. I praise you.'

Worthy for a mage, Anders couldn't help thinking but said not aloud. At the same time he recognised the thought was some derivate from the time Justice still had held a strong hold on his mind. Instead he nodded his head. 'Thank you, Your Grace,' he replied nervously. He wanted to say there had been no fight to speak of in the Gallows, thanks to Cullen, but his voice abandoned him.

She smiled again. 'Do continue the good work. Don't let me refrain you.' She bowed lightly.

And he went on, though rather shakily. She could instruct to make him tranquil or order his death at a whim. She bore that authority as well as the next Knight Commander. Even worse: now Meredith was dead, she was the only one left in Kirkwall with the right to give that command. On the other hand, she had approached him as if he was some kind of hero, which puzzled him. He was no hero. He just did his job. He should rejoice in the vast amount of mages moving freely around in the Keep but he was too occupied with caring for the wounded to be flabbergasted for too long. And he didn't realise that was the sheer reason why Elthina admired him. That it only emphasized her respect for him. His dedication.

Cullen was busy putting together a rescue party, or at least a team to find out what precisely had happened in the Gallows and if there were any survivors. 'I would like to make an appeal on you to lend me some of your mages,' he addressed Anders who was just recovering from his encounter with the Grand Cleric.

Anders looked doubtful. 'You see how much has to be done here. In fact, I need every person available. There are many lives that need to be saved.'

'I know,' Cullen nodded understandingly, 'but if there are any survivors, it is well possible they're injured and need care.' He paused for a few moments. 'And I don't know in what state we will find Orsino, in case he's still alive. He might as well be willing to put up a big fight; after what he has done he has nothing to lose. I fear he will be capable to do anything.'

Anders rubbed his grimy face and smiled dourly. 'If so, I hope you will give him his what for.'

'I'd rather take him prisoner and send him to the Divine so she can decide what his punishment will be,' Cullen answered pointedly, 'and I still have to make up my mind about what to do with Marius.'

'And with me,' Anders grimaced with a heavy heart.

In return the Knight Commander gave him a small inscrutable smile. 'I figured that one out already.'

Anders frowned but thought it better to ignore the enigmatic but not unfriendly smile for the time being. The praise of Elthina had already been too much to handle. 'I suppose I can spare two healers. I hope that will be enough. You can take as many willing battle mages as you like with you. I wish you luck.'

At the first brake of dawn Cullen set off with Thrask and their group of Templars and mages to the harbour to find a ship that could bring them to the Gallows, or what was left of it. The sewers were out of the question.

In the meantime Hawke, Fenris, Varric and Isabela had, together with the Guardsmen who still stood tall against all odds, accepted the grisly burden of collecting the dead, although Hawke suspected the pirate queen busied herself more with gathering loot than dragging the corpses outside the Hightown Gate. There was definitely no room for such a large number of fallen soldiers in the Chantry and leaving them in the city was even less an option. They laid the Kirkwall fighters in a neat row on a meadow just outside the gate, but dropped the Tevinters carelessly on a dishevelled heap in a hastily dug ditch.

For one reason or another that didn't sit well with Hawke and, to her surprise, neither with Fenris.

'They were soldiers,' he said pensively, with a frown on his brow, 'following orders.' He stared in the distance and absentmindedly bit his lip. 'I suppose they didn't mean wrong.' He sighed and smiled wanly at her. 'I think they are entitled to the same blessing our own dead have got from the Divine.' And to Hawke's surprise he went to persuade the women to perform the same ritual their own fighters had received. She sniffed the emotions away and thought it was impossible to love him more.

Aveline had sent patrols around the city, mostly to assure the residents all was well, the assault had been beat off and they all could sleep safe in their beds – i.e. if they had one. And to keep the peace, in case some hotheads got it in their deranged brains to make abuse of the situation.

Hours later the four of them were sitting in the Viscount's office together with Aveline, Donnic and Anders. Merrill was still floating along the amount of elves who were asking fervently for her attention and at the same time Sebastian and Elthina were doing their best to see to the needs of the many wounded. On Fenris's bidding even to the Tevinters. For some reason they weren't even surprised by his request.

The others were drinking strong coffee with a generous splash of brandy. The wounded were tended to, the dead had been removed from the city and were now lying on the field not far from the gate, waiting to be burned. Even the corpses of Danarius and his soldiers and demons had been dragged out of the Amell estate and unceremoniously dumped by the other Tevinters. Fenris had witnessed how the body of his former master had been carried to the heap of the Tevinter dead. Hawke had accompanied him on the short journey. She had studied his face that had stayed almost eerily emotionless all the way and had wondered what was going on behind that stony expression.

'And here he ends,' Fenris had finally said, 'amongst a pile of nameless soldiers.' There had been no hate or heated fury in his voice; there had just been a cool statement. He had bowed his head and the pained look in his eyes, as good as hidden behind his bangs, had missed Hawke's attention if she hadn't know him better.

'Do you have all your memories back?' she asked, tentatively touching his hand.

Fenris let out something between a snort and a sarcastic chuckle. 'Only the ones he wanted me to remember.' He shook his head immediately after. 'No. That is not completely true.' He turned his head to her and smiled. It was a fragile smile. 'I can still see my father die in the sand of that cursed arena. But I can also see the face of my mother sitting next to my bed, singing my favourite lullaby.'

Albran took his hand and squeezed. 'That must be a good memory.'

Fenris tilted his head. 'Yes,' he murmured pensively. 'It is.'

A small number of the Imperium army had run off with the tail between their legs and no-one had had the energy or desire to pursue them. Not even Fenris, though at this very moment he vented his worry about what they could cause.

Aveline carelessly waved his words away. 'Let them return to Tevinter,' she said with grim satisfaction, 'and tell their Senate Kirkwall is no easy prey. They will think twice before they get once more the insolent idea of attacking us. Besides that, they've lost their most powerful magister, together with an essential part of their army. They can't afford more losses, what with the permanent threat of the Qunari at their doorstep.'

'Speaking of those creeps,' Isabela grinned with malicious glee, 'when the word spreads, I'm sure even the Qunari will not get it in their horned heads to try taking this city,'

'Especially when a certain person succeeds in keeping their greedy fingers off their costly properties,' Anders remarked straight-faced, 'and I'm honestly surprised you didn't muddle up the word "horned" with "horny".' It earned him a snigger from Varric, a pair of amused raised eyebrows from Fenris and a heated scowl from the queen of the seas herself. But before the latter could give a snarky retort, Cullen entered the room and all faces spun around with an anxious expression. He shot them a ghost of a smile. He looked exhausted.

'It turns out only the great hall of the Tower is destroyed,' he reported after he had slumped down in an empty chair. 'The adjusting corridors are badly damaged, as are the offices of Meredith and Orsino. But the rest of the buildings are more or less intact. We had to excavate the entrance to the Circle's library though; it was blocked with a load of rubble ...' He stared ahead pensively. 'And something that resembled old evil magic.' He looked intensely and at the same time apologetically at Varric and Anders. 'It indeed felt like the influence of red lyrium and yes, your mages came in handy.' Anders frowned. My mages? 'But we found the Circle mages alive and kicking, though badly shaken.' He took a sip of his coffee strengthened with the very welcome pick-me-up.

'And what about Orsino?' Aveline informed bluntly.

'And Keran?' Hawke wanted to know, somewhat more tentatively. 'Any news about him?'

Cullen smiled wanly at Albran. 'Keran will be fine. We found him among the mages. He has a few broken ribs, a bad concussion and suffers from the aftermath of the foul magic Orsino has used on him. But he has been taken care for as we speak and will be fit as a spring chicken in no time. About Orsino ...' His look hardened. 'The First Enchanter – former First Enchanter – made a dismayed impression. He acted as cooperative and meek as possible. But after his betrayal I cannot trust him any longer.' He switched his attention to Aveline. 'I hope you won't take it ill, but I took the liberty to let him locked up in your dungeon. I used your authority to convince Guard Lieutenant Brennan to open one of the cells. Two Templars are guarding him. Please don't punish her for my bluntness.' He nearly blushed.

Aveline heaved her hand in a peaceful gesture to reassure him. 'Strange times ask for strange measures, Knight Captain. In fact, I'm glad you didn't bother me with this.' She cracked a lopsided grin. 'What else are lieutenants for, if not to take this kind of decisions out of one's hands?'

To the amazement of everyone present Cullen chuckled. And blushed some more. They had never heard him do that before, nor saw his face in this shade. 'Indeed, for what else,' he murmured. Within a heartbeat he became serious again. 'We will have to send a message to the Divine in Val Royeaux about what happened here, before the words of whatever spy that lingers in the city reach her and she decides to sic an army upon us.' He managed a bleak smile. 'We have had enough of that to cope with last night. Enough for a long time. We don't need another Exalted March.'

Aveline pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed heavily. 'I suppose you're right. Whatever it will bring up.'

Cullen looked around the circle. 'I'd like to have a word in private with you, Champion,' he said eventually and added with the smallest of smiles, 'and you, Fenris.'

'And me?'

They were standing in the wrecked Amell estate because it was more or less the only place where they wouldn't be overheard.

Again Cullen wrecked his once impeccable hair that was now drenched with soot and blood and sweat and all together was in complete disarray. Hawke couldn't help notice it made him look disarming. She was certain Guard Lieutenant Brennan was of the same thought.

'Yes you,' the man said now, adressing Fenris, 'and not only because you are the Champion's husband. You know Anders – and Marius better than anyone else.' He uttered an uncharacteristically snort. 'After all, you've endured and witnessed the worst and best of them.' He took a deep breath and continued, 'and I hope the both of you are willing to think with me.' His face twitched. 'Even after what Anders has done to you,' he said to Albran, almost pleading. 'I can understand -'

She interrupted him with a short wave of her hand and cocked an eyebrow. 'I don't want to talk about that. It's something between me and Anders and I believe we reached some middle ground. You wish to talk about what?'

Fenris lifted a corner of his mouth in the slightest of motions. He already had deduced where this was leading to – and didn't disagree, to his own amazement to be honest.

Cullen started pacing. He gestured forcefully along the way. 'This city needs a new Viscount, A strong one. Not some kind of weak puppet like Dumar. I'm convinced Guard Captain Aveline would be the perfect candidate. Would she accept the challenge?'

'I'm certain she would –' Hawke started but Cullen didn't let her finish.

'Of course she will; if only because she has an indisputable sense of duty. But there is another more important issue, that of a new First Enchanter. I know all too well Her Divine can send anyone to replace Orsino but I think this city needs a person the people can trust. Someone who fought at their side in the worst of her challenges and will be able not only to see the danger of magic but also has the wellbeing of the mages in mind. Many families in this city have mage offspring who are either locked up in the Circle, or hidden away to protect them from the atrocities Meredith allowed.' He abruptly stopped pacing and turned sharply. 'We can't go back to her outrageous standards. It would lead to again a devastating outcome. We need someone who understands both sides. The need for freedom and the appreciating of the danger.' He bit his lip and launched his last question. 'Do you think Anders is up to that task?'

Hawke was too dumfounded to answer but Fenris, after some consideration, said carefully, 'Now Justice has left him and he can make his own decisions, yes I think he is. He's a changed man.' He grinned thinly. 'I'm certain he won't start a new mage uprising in the function as First Enchanter, but on the other hand you must be prepared for some changes. Mindboggling changes I'm afraid.'

Cullen looked relieved and reciprocated the fragile grin. 'See, that's why I wanted you present. You've never been his first devotee but, perhaps because of that, you can look through him like no other can. You're the judge without the prejudice. And, yes, I think I can live with a few changes. Meredith has denigrated mages for too long and we have all witnessed where that led too.'

Hawke grasped the occasion to fill the silence that fell to ask, 'Do you think he even wants to be First Enchanter?'

Fenris laughed out loud. 'Of course he wants to. He is as dedicated as Aveline. I have no doubt he wants to protect the mages and at the same time point out their responsibility.' He took a breath and said, 'I won't be surprised when it turns out he wants to make all mages into healers.'

Albran was again – or still gobsmacked and remained silent.

Cullen made use of the chance to push a piece of vellum under their noses. 'I already took the liberty to write a letter of recommendation. I only need your signatures to make it official.'

'And what about Marius?' Albran asked hesitantly. Both males turned to her. 'I mean, he has been of great value and has fought valiantly after all the evil he has committed. But that was evil caused because he had instructions from the Tevinter senate. And Danarius. At that time he didn't even perceived his deeds were evil, did he?' The silence stretched and she couldn't help but chortle. 'We let Anders deal with that problem, don't we?' The smiles coming her way made clear Fenris and Cullen were of the same thought. 'Well,' she beamed, 'then there's only one thing left to do. Fenris, Aveline and I, and a lot of other people with us, have to write another letter of recommendation.' Fenris smirked knowingly and Cullen just stared blankly back at her. 'To make you the new Knight Commander.'

If possible Cullen's face became even more blank. 'And we will not take a "no" for an answer. Feel free to promote Thrask to the rank of Knight Captain. I think he deserves it.' After some contemplations she added, 'And for Andraste's sake, ask Brennan out on a date. Everyone can see she's as interested in you as you are in her.' Cullen looked completely panicked at her frank words but Hawke went unremorsefully on, 'Oh come on, don't play the How-do-you-know-that- part. It's stamped on your forehead. And I know Templars can woo a woman. By the Maker, Aveline was married to one once.'

Cullen fled the building with a face on fire, followed by Hawke's heartily laugh.

It took a couple of weeks but in the end, with much help, the Amell estate was restored to the old glory and Albran and Fenris moved back with their three devoted servants they considered more as family. By then the fallen heroes were given to the Maker on their wooden piles that were set on fire with all the reverence they deserved, while the Tevinters got buried without much ado. In fact, their bodies were hastily covered with a thin layer of earth and quick lime to avoid sickness. But although they had been a dangerous enemy and had threatened the existence of the city, Elthina said a short prayer for the wellbeing of their souls, as Fenris had asked.

She had wanted to step down, recognizing her shortcomings and mistakes, but Sebastian had pleaded forcefully for her to keep her position. She might not have been the strong person that had been needed to confront Meredith, but then again, who had been? Even Cullen had failed and he now was the Knight Commander, with the blessing of the Divine herself. Hawke, and even more Aveline, had had their objections but recognized at the same time Elthina represented some kind of mother, or grandmother. A person who was an unconditional symbol of care and love. The tattered city was in great need of such a person right now and she all but was the best candidate. Even for the elves.

To his own astonishment Anders indeed had been made First Enchanter and though he had been overwhelmed at first, and he hadn't been certain at all whether this was the best position for him, he had accepted. In no time the Circle got reformed and renamed as the "Free Circle". No mage was forced to live in the narrow quarters, but they were more than welcome if they decided to do so. They, however, could leave as many times as they wished to visit their loved-ones. Within weeks there never had been so many mages living in the Gallows. Most of them utterly relieved they finally could openly confess they were born with the gift of magic without the ghastly repercussions. To be properly trained. Together with the Templars they worked hard to bring back the Gallows to its former splendour.

And, as Hawke had intended, a hospital was founded. One that accepted and treated all sick people, even the inhabitants of the Undercity, without costs. It became a hit in no time.

And, yes, Marius stayed. Of course he couldn't return to Minrathous, he would be killed the moment he disembarked. But he hadn't wanted to return in the first place. A Seeker had come to Kirkwall, sent by the Divine, to take him away together with Orsino, and to find out what exactly had happened. They had left her in the capable hands of Varric who had spun a grand and glorious story, as was expected. She had taken it all, as also had been expected. They had paid the dwarf's tab in the Hanged Man without any comment. And the outcome was that Cullen got the rank of Knight Commander, Anders the one of First Enchanter and Aveline could proceed as the Viscount she, in fact, already was. Marius lived in the Free Circle and earned his money as a professor. A professor who taught his students about the dangers of blood magic and mind magic and how to recognize and fight it. The books both Orsino and Anders had discovered were teaching material.

The Divine had ordered to make Orsino tranquil. When the message reached the Gallows Anders and Cullen both felt a pang of grief. Perhaps it had been better if the former First Enchanter had been put to death. But then again, it could well be this was the proper punishment for his foul deeds.

And a monument was erected for the brave elves who had come to the rescue of the humans; a beautiful tableau was hewn out of white marble by an elven artist and set on play in the middle of the Chantry Square.

Not much later a whisper went around town the new Knight Commander doted on a feisty Guard Lieutenant. In fact, they were engaged a few days after. Brennan couldn't stop giggling and Cullen took the word "blushing" to a whole new level.

Albran and Fenris lay in each other's arms on a couch in the sparsely lit library. They were sharing a good glass of wine and stared into the fire of the hearth while the last of the candles extinguished. None of them moved. They just basked in the peace and quiet and each other's silent company.

'Well,' Fenris finally said, 'all is well that ends well, I suppose.'

Albran giggled softly. 'That's a platitude if I ever heard one. I thought you were better than that.'

Fenris shrugged his shoulders which caused his upper arm to brush one of her breasts. Her breath hitched. 'It may be a platitude but it's also the truth.' He turned to kiss her. 'As much as it is the truth `that I'm going to have all of you right now,' he murmured in that irresistible low dark sugar coated rough velvet voice of his. 'Would you dare to call that a platitude?'

'No,' she breathed with aroused expectation. And she thought, before all thoughts got drenched in the manoeuvres of his deftly fingers, demanding tongue and perfect body, 'finally alone.'

And, oh, how she would be proved to be wrong.

Thanks to all of you who've taken the effort and time to read this story (again...) It's very much appreciated!