"I must say, Serah Hawke, I am greatly impressed with the progress you have made this past year."

Lana stood in the Revered Mother's study, hovering over the woman as she observed her over the top of her desk. Today her Chantry days were finally over. She had been looking forward to this day for months. Although she hated having to show up every day for eight hours to be 'saved', Lana found it a good pretext for spending time with a woman who had taken stolen her heart and supported her through a time of need and loneliness.

"Thank you, Mother. Sister Leliana has helped me greatly," she replied. In many different positions and locations.

"Indeed," the Revered Mother said, getting to her feet, seemingly oblivious to the relationship that had been ongoing between two women under her nose for months. "Though there has been improvement, I'm afraid more is needed, however. I regret that I went about teaching you the ways of the Chantry in the wrong manner, child. Sister Leliana has redeemed herself in the eyes of The Maker by helping you through the dark path you were heading down and bringing you redemption."

Lana smiled, "I agree," she said, the Orlesian beauty's face appearing in her mind.

"There is one last thing that you must do, Lana Hawke, lest our teaching so far amount to nothing," the Revered Mother said, beginning her usual pacing. Hawke had been expecting this. Of course she wasn't just about to let me go now that she seen me as her minion.

"Anything, Mother," she said, though dreading what was to come. She had a feeling this wasn't going to be good news.

"Sit down, child," the Revered Mother said, seating herself back down at her desk and gesturing to the small wooden chair facing it. Lana obliged, settling herself down and feeling a little nervous. This was obviously no simple task.

"I understand that you little brother has joined the King's Army that is heading to the South as we speak," she said gently. Hawke's jaw tightened. Carver and Bethany had celebrated their eighteenth birthday a few days ago with a small family dinner that had then erupted into a full-scale argument after the only Hawke son had revealed her was leaving that very day to fight the so-called Blight at Ostagar.

"Yes, Mother," she said sadly, not needing reminding. "But I don't understand what this has to do with me."

The Revered Mother observed her closely across the desk, her arms folded.

"A Grey Warden by the name of Duncan passed through her a few weeks ago and has warned of a Darkspawn Horde rising in the South and coming out of the Korkari Wilds," she informed her, "They say this could mark the beginning of the next Blight. The King's Army needs soldiers, Serah Hawke. They could use someone like you."

The pit of Lana's stomach dropped, "You...want me to...?"

The Revered Mother nodded. "It is your job to look after you little brother and join him to fight this battle."

Hawke snorted in disbelief. "You know, that's exactly what my mother yelled at me the day he left us?" she said bitterly, "And I will tell you like I told her...It was his choice, Mother. The King's Army have been trying to enlist me for years. I have always refused, not caring about their petty problems. I have enough of my own, thank you. I sorely wish that Carver had done the same, but the King has gained a great swordsman with him in their ranks. I will not hold him back in his search for glory."

"That will be my last lesson, Hawke," the Revered Mother said, "You have a Maker-given talent of great skill in battle. You will save many lives by doing this. I am not taking no for an answer."

Lana frowned, "So...you're sending me to my death?" she asked incredulously. I have to leave Leliana? The thought lodged in her throat and she found it difficult to swallow. The Revered Mother stared into her eyes for a few moments.

"There have been certain...rumours, child..."

"About?"

The woman looked uncomfortable talking about it, as though it was something unpleasant. "...About you and Sister Leliana," she admitted. Lana's blood ran cold. She shivered. Someone knows about us?

"I don't follow," she lied, playing dumb. The Revered Mother squirmed in her chair, clearly not accustomed to talking about sexual relations in The Maker's house, especially not any of this nature.

"Sister Clarabelle claimed to have walked in on you two being...intimate on numerous occasions," she informed her. Hawke froze, trying not to let her fear and the truth betray her. "Now," The Revered Mother continued, "While I will not take her solely on her word, well aware of her grudge against Sister Leliana as I am, I have been left with some...doubt."

"There's nothing going on between me and Leliana!" Hawke blurted out, hearing her voice shake a little as she said it.

"I should hope not," the Revered Mother said more sternly now. "While Leliana has taken no vows of celibacy it is not permitted to have sexual relations while in the service of The Chantry...as she very well knows. I would be extremely disappointed if she has gone against our rules after everything the cloister has done for her."

"She hasn't," Hawke lied, trying to sound convincing.

"I don't doubt her belief in The Maker, child," the Revered Mother said, "But sometimes I doubt that she has really committed to this path she is on, having heard stories of her visiting taverns and what not in recent months. After those stories turned out to be true, I have no choice but to treat this accusation as suspicious."

"So...You're sending me to fight the Darkspawn to...to keep me away from her?" Hawke asked, though already knowing the answer. Her heart broke at the thought. I can't leave her!

"I am setting you on the path to your destiny, Serah Hawke," the Revered Mother corrected her, "And I am keeping Sister Leliana on hers. You will leave with the army tomorrow...or you will both be arrested."

Lana's jaw dropped. "Revered Mother..."she whispered, feeling her words catch in her throat as a result of shock. "You can't-"

"What I can't do is allow this sin against The Maker to continue! Whether it is true or not, rumours sometimes hurt more than the truth!" the Revered Mother said firmly, her voice rising dangerously. "It is your choice, Hawke. Join the King's Army to fight the Darkspawn in the South and protect your little brother, or allow the Templars to take Leliana and yourself into custody. Need I remind you that a sin against The Maker such as this one is punishable by death if evidence it sufficient."

Hawke felt as though she had been punched in the chest. Anger rose inside her and she jumped to her feet, leaning over the table and squaring up to the Revered Mother.

"Don't you dare try to manipulate me by using my little brother's safety!" she yelled, furious at the act of blackmail. "I won't do what you ask! I always knew the Chantry was full of bloody hypocrites."

"I helped you!" The Revered Mother argued, also getting to her feet. "This is your calling, Hawke. I have set you on your path. You have no choice but to cooperate. I will not hesitate to arrest you on the spot."

"You can try to arrest me all you like, but leave Sister Leliana out of this. She's done nothing wrong," Lana said, a note of pleading in her voice.

"If you leave tomorrow and travel South with what remains of the King's Army, I guarantee you that Sister Leliana's life will be spared," the Revered Mother said. "...Is that enough of an ultimatum for you?"

A muscle flexed in Hawke's jaw. She couldn't believe it had come to this. I'm being blackmailed by this Chantry prude?...Maker, I really hate religious people! Without replying, Lana turned her back on the Revered Mother and stormed out.

"You have until dawn, Serah!" the Revered Mother yelled after her.

Lana shoved the door to the study so hard that it smashed off the stone wall with a crash, alerting several Chantry-goers who were kneeling in player in front of the altar. I have to find Leliana! Hawke thought desperately. She had no idea what they were going to do. She began to sprint the length of the aisle, exiting the Chantry building and running though the gardens to where Sister Leliana was thankfully tending to the same gnarled root on the ground that she so loved to visit. Lana took a deep breath and began to tell her what had just unfolded.

Leliana's knees gave way. She sank down onto the grass, holding her heart. Lana sat herself down beside her, placing a hand on her leg and squeezing her thigh comfortingly, having just told her she would be leaving to fight the Darkspawn at dawn the next morning.

"I'm sorry," she said, feeling responsible for everything. "If I had of just...left you alone instead of pursuing you we wouldn't even be in this mess, Lel."

"Lana, don't say that!" Leliana said, staring into her chocolate-brown eyes and feeling tears sting her own. "It was I who chased after you initially. You aren't the one to blame here, believe me."

A heavy silence fell over them.

"What are we going to do?" Hawke asked sadly. "I can't lose you, Leliana...Not this soon...We've only known each other for just over a year."

Leliana smiled at her sympathetically and touched her cheek. It was a cruel, cruel world they lived in. "We both knew this day would come, Lana," she said softly. "This was never going to last forever...Either of those offers from the Revered Mother will see us end up alone, the way we were meant to be it seems."

"At least if I go to fight the Darkspawn, I can save you though," Lana said, having told her of her decision to leave. Leliana shook her head.

"I can't ask you to do that for me," she said, "I don't deserve it, Lana..."

Hawke stared into her bright blue eyes. "You deserve a lot more," she whispered, giving her a small smile. "But I'm afraid this is all I can offer you..."

Leliana leaned in and kissed her, too heartbroken now to be cautious of the fact that they were in the Chantry Gardens with prying eyes all around them. The Revered Mother already knows our secret anyway, she thought, feeling a tear spill from her closed eyes as her lips pressed against Lana's for one of the last few times. That's why she's sending Hawke away. Their kisses were numbered now.

"I have to go," Lana whispered when they pulled apart. "I have to tell my family the news."

"Are you...Are you going to tell them about me?" Leliana asked, staring into her eye. Lana considered it.

"No," she said then, "I would so love to, Lel. You know how much I care about you...But I'm just not ready to come clean about my sexuality. Now's not the time."

Leliana smiled, understanding. "You need to soon though," she said, "Do not be afraid of your Mother, Lana. If she loves you, she will accept you for who you are, no matter what."

Hawke sighed. "What if she doesn't...?"

Leliana caressed her face and gave her a sympathetic smile. "Then she's a fool..."

Hawke's heart warmed at her words. She leaned in to kiss her once more. "Thank you," she said, "I really wish I didn't have to go."

"Don't worry," Leliana said. "Tell your family that you have enlisted to protect Carver. It's a little bit of the truth at least."

Lana smiled at her. "I'll miss you, Leliana," she said hoarsely, feeling her heart tear at the thought.

"Come and see me tonight," Leliana replied, "Please...I'd-I'd like to say goodbye properly."

Hawke hesitated. She desperately wanted to but it would be a bit of a risk. She realised though that she couldn't just leave things like this between them. Finally her mind was made up. "Of course," she replied, "The windmill?"

"At midnight," Leliana confirmed. "I have plans of my own to make in the mean time. I'm afraid I will no longer be able to stay here in the cloister after everything when you leave."

"I'm sorry," Lana said again, feeling responsible for messing her life up once more.

"Stop it!" Leliana scolded, seeing the needless guilt in her eyes. She didn't blame her in the slightest. How could I? She saved me in the end. Unable to resist, Leliana kissed her swiftly on the lips once more. "Now go!" she ordered, "You don't have much time to spare."

Hawke reluctantly turned away from her and began the long trek home, her heart beating frantically. This time tomorrow she would be facing the Darkspawn in the South, having left one of the most important people in her life behind, their tale of romance dying out with only the two of them aware of what they had shared together. No one would ever know how much they cared for each other. That in itself was the greatest shame of all.

"Sister, don't do this!" Bethany cried, hugging her around the neck. "Carver made his choice! Maker, I can't lose you as well!"

Hawke hugged her back. She had just finished packing her things, her daggers strapped to her back, ready to leave for Ostagar with the rest of the King's Army after informing the Commander there that she would finally be enlisting. To their delight, and her dismay, the army was leaving before midnight, meaning her planned rendezvous with Leliana wouldn't be possible. She couldn't stand the woman up though. She meant too much to her. She had to see her before she left.

"I'm sorry, Bethany," Hawke said, feeling her eyes well up with tears as her sister sobbed openly in front of her. "I don't want to go either, but I have to."

"Why?" Bethany wept, wanting to hold onto her forever. "You never cared about this before, Lana. Why now? Something must have happened."

Hawke pulled back and stared into her little sister's eyes, seeing the sadness in them and the intelligence. She had grown up so much in the last year. Lana sighed, brushing away a lock of her long brown hair, wishing she could pluck up the courage to tell her the whole truth. "Someday I'll tell you, Bethany...I promise."

Another tear leaked out of her sister's eye and she buried her face in her chest once more, sobbing loudly. Leandra watched her daughters, seeing the pain in Lana's face at the thought of leaving.

"Take care of your brother, won't you?" she asked. "He's a good boy."

Hawke released Bethany finally and kissed her on the cheek. She turned to Leandra and stared into her eyes. Something about their relationship had changed in the last few months. She couldn't quite put her finger on it but found that her mother continuously pointed the finger at her when things ever went wrong, whether trivial or not. Truth be told, there was more concern in her eyes for Carver when he left. Noticing this, Lana's eyes stung with tears. She had no idea what she had done wrong recently for her mother's love to change.

The hug Leandra gave her was awkward and forced. "Take care, darling. This is a brave thing you're doing. Remember though, Carver is your responsibility. Look after him."

Hawke nodded. "I will, Mother. Don't fret. We'll be back before you know it."

"I wish victory was indeed so certain," Leandra said grimly, patting her cheek. "May your father's spirit watch over you both."

Lana nodded and took a deep breath as she turned back towards her little sister. "I love you, Bethany," she said, kneeling down beside her. "Just in case I don't get to say it again..."

"I love you too, Lana," Bethany cried, "More than anything...I always will."

Hawke swallowed over the lump in her throat and hugged her little sister tightly once more. "Goodbye," she whispered, releasing her reluctantly and getting to her feet. She walked towards the door and turned the handle, taking one last look back at what was left of her family before leaving the home that had kept them safe for so long, ready to face an unknown enemy.

Hawke found she had little more than an hour to spare by the time she had reached Lothering. She informed the Commander that she was ready before leaving her weapons with him and sprinting towards the Chantry cloister in search of Leliana. She had never entered the cloister before, having been forbidden to by the Revered Mother and several Chantry Sisters. Today though, it didn't matter. Desperate to see Leliana one last time she pushed open the door and headed down the large hallway.

Thankfully, the room doors had names on their faces. Lana rushed along the hall, her footsteps echoing treacherously off the stone walls. It was getting late. She glanced at each name, her heart beating hard against her chest. Sister Clarabelle, Ser Mabel, Sister Hannah, Sister Josephine...Sister...Leliana! Without knocking, Hawke opened the door and entered the bedroom.

Leliana turned around in fright as the door to her room burst open. She dropped the towel she was holding to the ground in surprise and stood completely naked, having just had a bath. Her jaw dropped.

"Hawke!? What are you-?"

Lana crossed the distance between them in one swift motion and her lips crashed down on Leliana's like a wave, a hunger in them that she had never experienced before. Leliana felt the woman guide her backwards onto the soft bed, kissing her furiously as though there was no tomorrow. Well, for us there won't be, she thought sadly. A moan of longing escaped her lips as Hawke's hands ran along her curves, turning her crazy with desire. She became instantly aware of her entire body, every sensation, every wet kiss that Lana began to leave along her collar bone as she made her way down along her body, eager and impatient, wanting everything all at once and not knowing where to start. Every single part of Leliana's body was tingling, completely alive. She gasped uncontrollably as Lana's hands explored the fullness of her breasts, massaging them gently before running her tongue teasingly along her pointed nipple, continuing onwards, kissing between her cleavage, then further and further down along her tense abdomen.

"Hawke..."Leliana moaned, resting her hands on the woman's head, intertwining them in her dark brown hair. Suddenly she felt the woman's warm mouth finally cover the throbbing, wetness in between her legs. "Uh, Maker!"

It was the most incredible sensation she had ever experienced, even better than the first time Lana had pleasured her this way. She couldn't help but cry out loud, too caught up in their last moments together to care about being caught by any of the Sister's in the bedrooms nearby who were probably trying to sleep. Lana's tongue was magical, teasing and taunting her body until the brink of control. Leliana's abs contracted and tensed as she squirmed under Hawke's weight, feeling the unbearable, torturing sensitivity of her desire as Hawke sent her into a quivering, mind-blowing climax.

Not giving her a moment's rest, Lana travelled back up to meet the woman's lips again, seeing her lying panting on the bed, completely overcome with emotions and lost in passion. Lana pressed a few fingers between her legs, curling them inside her and hearing continuous cries from the Chantry Sister. Fearing they would be caught, Lana covered her mouth with her own, demanding her attention once more and biting down on the woman's bottom lip teasingly. She could feel Leliana's hands slide up under her shirt and pull her closer, her nails dragging along her back she sent her body into a wave of unbearable satisfaction.

Hearing her cry out her name once more, Hawke finally relaxed. She lay flat on top of Leliana and retracted her hands from in between her legs and running them along the woman's perfectly toned, slightly scarred body. Leliana tucked her hand under Lana's chin and leaned up to kiss her once more before wrapping her arms around her neck and holding her tighter than ever before.

"I don't want you to go," she cried, feeling warm tears leak out the corners of her eyes.

"I know," Lana whispered back in her ear. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Leliana."

"Then don't leave," Leliana replied, burying her face in Hawke's neck. "Please..."

"I have to," Lana replied sadly, "It's the only way, Lel...and I would rather make sure my brother is safe instead of letting him do this alone. He's too cocky for his own good."

Leliana chuckled weakly. She placed both hands on Hawke's face and redirected her lips towards hers once more before pulling back and staring deeply into the brown eyes above her.

"I lov-"

Lana pressed her fingers to her lips to silence her. She shook her head, knowing she would fall apart if she heard those words.

"Don't," she whispered, "Please...This is hard enough as it is..."

She slid her fingers away from her mouth then felt Leliana exhale in sorrow.

"I do though," she cried, fresh tears streaming from her swimming blue eyes. Lana sighed and ran a hand through the woman's short red hair, cursing the Revered Mother for forcing this separation upon them. She wanted nothing more than to lay here with Leliana, snuggle in beside her and sleep by her side as every other person was allowed to do with their hearts desire. Yet for some reason, her life always seemed to be missing that part. Unable to lie there any longer and try to hold onto something that was already lost, Lana pulled back and straightened up off of Leliana. She slid off the end of the bed and got to her feet, readjusting her clothes and looking at the door. Leliana got up off the bed and pressed her naked self up against the woman's back. She brushed Lana's hair out of the way and placed a tender, warm kiss on the nape of her neck.

"Goodbye, Leliana," Hawke said, unable to look at her anymore. Leliana sniffled.

"Goodbye, Lana," she whispered, her heart shattering as Lana left her embrace and walked towards the door. She pulled it open and exited the Chantry Sister's bedroom, closing it behind her with a tight, definitive snap! without looking back.

"CARVER!...CARVER!"

Hawke stumbled over a mutilated soldier, falling to the ground clumsily. She was completely out of breath, her arms heavy with the effort of swinging her blades. The red sky above her hypnotized her momentarily before she was attacked again.

"ARRGHHH!"

Using what she was sure was her last ounce of strength she cut off the head of what must have been the hundredth Genlock she had killed single-handedly today. They had been overrun from the beginning. Despite behind dubious at the beginning, Lana was sure that this was indeed a Blight, just as the Grey Warden Duncan had tried to warn them all. Get up, Lana! Get up! Steeling herself once more she heaved her tired, aching, blood-covered body up off the tainted forest floor and scanned the battlefield for any sign of her brother, whom she had caught a glimpse of a few seconds ago.

"CARVER!"

Her cries were drawn out by the numerous rattling Darkspawn breaths and shouts of desperate men as the King's Army were massacred mercilessly, with no sign of Teryn Loghain's men coming to save them. Suddenly a glint of silver caught her eye. It was Carver's long sword, the same one she had purchased for his seventeenth birthday a year ago, lying in a still figure's grasp.

"Brother!"

Instinctively Hawke fought her way across the battlefield surrounding the Ostagar ruins, killing every cursed beast that got in her way. She fell to the ground beside her little brother and shook him desperately.

"Carver, wake up! CARVER!"

He began to stir. With no time to spare, Lana pulled him to his feet and hauled him over her shoulder.

"FALL BACK!" a Commander was shouting, "RETREAT! WE'RE OVERRUN!"

Not needing to be told again Lana began to sprint north as best she could, holding her semi-unconscious brother on her shoulders.

"THEY'LL KILL US ALL! THEY'LL KILL US ALL!" a disturbed soldier was shouting hysterically. Suddenly he was cut down by a Darkspawn Hurlock.

Lana raced ahead. She looked behind her, seeing the massive Horde charging out of the wilds, seemingly multiplying by the second and chasing what remained of the Ferelden Army into the Korkari Wilds. Looking straight ahead Hawke kept her head down and bolted towards the vast forest as fast as her brother's weight would allow her. I have to get home! She thought desperately, I have to reach Lothering before the Blight does!

As soon as she reached the imaginary safety of the trees a massive dragon could be seen flying over head. She glanced up at the beast in awe, having never seen one before. Now's not the time to stop and take notes, Lana! Unable to travel any further with her brother and feeling him move she set him down and thrust the heavy sword into his hand.

"Are you alright?" she asked worriedly, glancing behind them. The Horde would catch up within minutes. They had to keep moving.

"Fine," Carver groaned picking himself up. "Come on! There isn't much time!"

"Took the words right out of my mouth, little bro," Lana replied following after him into the Korkari Wilds towards the other side where their family home was hopefully still standing on the outskirts.

A few hours later the two of them finally reached the clearing where their home lay surrounded by the trees. Lana's jaw dropped. The house was in flames, surrounded by Darkspawn stragglers who had it made it there first. They were too late.

"Damn it!" Carver cursed, swinging his sword at the nearest tree in despair. Hawke held a hand over her mouth. Bethany! Mother! she thought weakly. A furious scream erupted from the pit of her stomach, scorching her throat as it tore from her and echoed in the night. Tears fell down Carver's face for the first time in years. He withdrew his sword from the tree, revived by his elder sister's scream and released a war cry of his own, rushing recklessly towards the Darkspawn cluster in front of the burning ruins, closely followed by Lana.

"You bastards!" she cursed, cutting off the nearest one's head then piercing the other with her second blade, revelling in the black blood that was spurting from the open wounds. She saw her brother hack the same Hurlock over and over, showering himself in blood, furiously taking his anger and grief out on the wretched beasts. Lana placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

"Sshhh, brother... I've got you."

For the first time in his life, Carver didn't challenge her. He sank onto her shoulder and rested his head against hers, both of them staring up at their family home that was now completely destroyed. Suddenly the Zap! Zap! Zap! of a nearby spell broke them apart. Both of them looked at each other then glanced around them, having grown up with that sound their entire lives.

"There! Along the mountain path!" Carver yelled, "Come on, Lana!"

Hawke sprinted after him, her heart lifting. Her little sister was furiously battling a small cluster of Darkspawn that had evidently just chased them from their home. Leandra was cowering scared behind her.

"SISTER!"

Bethany's face lit up at her older sister's voice. She cast a protective barrier around her siblings with her staff as Carver came flying through the air and cut down the nearest tainted creature with one menacing swing. Lana swept up behind him, killing any peripheral figures and running towards her family. Thank The Maker!

She and Carver threw their arms around Bethany simultaneously, feeling dead on their feet and glad that she wasn't.

"Are you...are you crying, Carver?" Bethany whispered, stunned. Lana chuckled and ruffled her little brother's jet black hair.

"Of course!" he replied, "I thought I'd bloody lost you, Beth!"

Bethany hugged both her siblings tightly and kissed them both on the cheek before releasing them harshly and casting a ball of fire at more Darkspawn. There was an explosion of flames and the Hurlocks were burnt alive. Lana cut down the flaming, screeching figures and watched them fall to the ground, finally dead.

"I think that's all of them," Carver said, turning to his mother. Bethany and Lana hovered beside them.

"For the moment," his twin sister answered him.

"We've lost it all!" Leandra said sadly, "Everything your father and I built."

"At least we're still alive," Lana said optimistically.

"Yes, you're right," Leandra replied, rubbing her head.

"We should have left sooner, Mother! Why did we wait so long?" Bethany said, glancing at her brother and sister as though it was their fault unintentionally.

"Why are you looking at us? We've been running since Ostagar!" Carver replied angrily, massaging his bicep.

"Oh, great time to argue!" Lana interrupted sarcastically, "Shall me and Mother stand and wait for you two to finish while the Darkspawn close in on us!"

"Lana, now's not the time for your stupid jokes!" Leandra scolded a lot harsher than she usually spoke to her eldest. Hawke recoiled a little at her tone.

"I was just...Never mind...Let's go," she said, shaking her head, having little time to ponder her mother's rudeness. Maybe she's just scared.

"Lead on then," Carver said, looking up to his elder for a change. Something about sharing the horrors of Ostagar together had brought them closer. Now that he had been able to prove himself and get out from his sister's shadow Carver seemed to respect her a lot more.

Lana began to lead her family up the mountain path they had taken so many times before, fighting through more Darkspawn along the way and protecting her mother with all her might. After half an hour or so, they had reach the part of the mountains that over looked Lothering. The village was already in flames. The Darkspawn have got further than any of us ever expected, Lana thought shocked. Her heart ached as she thought of Leliana. Maker, I hope she's not...She couldn't even allow herself to think the word.

"Where...Where are we going?" Bethany asked, out of breath from the climb.

"Away from the Darkspawn, Sister. Where else?" Carver replied lightly.

"And then where? We can't just wander aimlessly," she replied.

"I don't mind as long as we wander aimlessly away from the Horde," Lana joked.

"Maker's Breath, will you stop messing around, Lana!?" Leandra scolded. This time her hostility did not go unnoticed by the others. Bethany glanced at her strangely, wondering why her elder sister's comment had earned such wrath from their mother. "We will go to Kirkwall," Leandra continued, talking normally again.

"What? Why would we go there?" Lana asked in disbelief, "There are a lot of Templars in Kirkwall, Mother."

"I know that!" Leandra snarled, glaring at her eldest once more, "But we have family there, and an Estate."

Bethany groaned, "Then we need to get to Gwaren and take ship."

"If we survive that long," Carver said bitterly. "I'll just be happy to get out of-"

His words were drowned out by an approaching battle between a redheaded woman and none other than a Templar off all things. Before Lana could warn her sister, Bethany had shot fire bolt after fire bolt at the oncoming scuffle, saving their fellow refugees. Only afterwards when the smoke had cleared did she realise she had saved a member of the very organisation that had been hunting her and her father for their entire lives simply for having magic.

"S-stay away, Maleficar!" the Templar grunted.

She snorted in disbelief.

"Well, The Maker has a sense of humour, Darkspawn and now a Templar? I thought they all abandoned Lothering," she said bitterly, her voice heavy with irony. Lana chuckled a little, standing with her arms folded beside her sister as the redheaded, heavily-muscled woman tried to help the Mage-Hunter up onto his feet again. He seemed to be badly injured.

"Stop squirming, Wesley. You'll make it worse!" she said worriedly. She turned to Lana then. "My name is Aveline Vallen, and this is my husband Ser Wesley. We can hate each other when we're away from the battle."

"That woman is an apostate!" Wesley said, approaching her threateningly. "The Order dictates-"

Lana jumped in between them, staring at the man with dislike.

"Dear, they saved us," Aveline interrupted, seeing that Lana wasn't someone to be messed with. "The Maker understands."

"I...Of course," he relented, standing down, realising Lana wasn't going to.

"For now we should work together," Aveline continued, "North is cut off. We barely escaped the bulk of the Horde."

"And the wilds are to the South, that's no way out!" Carver interjected.

"If the odds are South or die, we go South," Lana said, still reeling from the Templar's gall to start something in the middle of a Blight. "You're free to come along, Aveline Vallen...and even your mage-hunting husband...for time being. As long as you know that I stand with my little sister to the death. I will kill you if you try anything, Templar."

"Understood," Wesley replied. Truth be told, he didn't look like he had the energy to do anything, let alone kill a fully-fledged apostate. He was losing a lot of blood as they stood around talking.

All of a sudden, they were surrounded by the oncoming Horde.

"There's no end to them!" Bethany yelled as she began firing spells into their midst. Aveline left Wesley's side and joined Lana and Carver in chopping down the Hurlocks as their little party became over run once more. Out of the corner of her eye, Lana spotted a massive horned ogre approaching her mother.

"MOTHER!" she yelled, "LOOK OUT!"

Leandra turned just in time to see the ogre reach down towards her. Suddenly Carver came flying out of nowhere, getting there first.

"You soulless bastards!" He yelled, diving in front of his mother and bringing his sword up to protect them from the flailing ogre fist. The sword collided with the ogre's armor hard, knocking Carver off balance with a shower of sparks. Lana couldn't fight through the battlefield on time. She watched in horror as her little brother was swept off his feet by the giant beast. Seeing the ogre lift him high in the air, she screamed, knowing what was coming before it happened. Carver's body was slammed off the ground continually, his bones crunching loudly, blood oozing through the ogre's finger's as it leaked from his broken body.

"NOOOO!" Lana yelled. She leapt off the ground as the ogre tossed her brother to the side and stabbed it with both blades right in the centre of the chest. The breast growled and howled in the night as Hawke twisted her blades in the place where its heart should have been. The mountainside shook like an earthquake and the giant ogre collapsed backwards onto the ground with Lana still swinging from her daggers, standing on its chest. She pulled them out in a blood fury and pierced the beast's head for good measure before jumping off its broad body.

Cries of despair nearby brought her attention back.

"Carver! CARVER! Oh, my little boy!"

"Brother!...NO!"

Lana sprinted over and collapsed to her knees at the sight, falling beside her mother as she clung to her little brother's mangled body. A small sob escaped her lips as Leandra rocked him back and forth. She placed a hand on her mother's shoulder.

"Carver gave his life to save ours," she said gently, trying to be strong for her. "At least Father won't b-be alone now."

"I don't want a hero!" Leandra snarled in despair, shaking her off. Lana recoiled and got back to her feet, feeling the anger radiate off her mother and project onto her. "I want my son!" She placed his head gently on the ground and got to her feet, turning angrily to her eldest daughter.

"HOW COULD YOU LET HIM CHARGE OFF LIKE THAT!?" Leandra yelled hysterically, showering her with spit.

"I...I'm sorry," Lana replied, hurt by her words.

"Sorry isn't good enough!" her mother replied, tears streaming down her face. "Sorry won't bring your brother back...My little boy...This is your fault!"

"Mother!" Bethany cried, "No!"

Leandra was too far gone to be stopped now though. "You let this happen!" she yelled, poking Lana hard in the shoulder continuously. "You should have protected him!"

Hawke backed away from her mother, seeing the unforgiving look in her eyes. In that moment she realised that her heart had completely closed to her now. "Mother..."she gasped, taken aback by her accusations. Was it my fault?...Am I responsible for my little brother's death?

"Stop it, Mother!" Bethany cried as Leandra's cold eyes glared into her eldest's chocolate-brown ones, which were now filling with tears. She could see the guilt on her sister's face, and knew that Lana was blaming herself too, listening to every unfair word their mother screamed at her.

"It should have been you!" Leandra continued, slapping Lana's chest, "IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU!...Not my little boy...Not my Carver..."

Lana felt her mother shove her back as she tried to hug her. Her foot caught on a stone and she fell backwards, landing on the hard ground, rejected by the very woman who had brought her into this world. She turned to Bethany, stunned. Her little sister was frozen to the spot. She watched a single tear fall from Lana's eye and stream down her dirty cheek, seeing a pain etched onto her face that words couldn't describe.

Leandra continued to fret over Carver's body, as the Templar guided his soul to The Maker, surrounded by the others. Outcast and in more pain than she had ever thought was possible, Lana got to her feet. She walked to the edge of the mountain and stared back at the burning village of Lothering in the distance. As Leliana's face entered her mind she found that not even the love she held for her could help her through this grief. Her brother had been killed in front of her eyes. Her mother had turned her back on her, blaming her in return. Wiping a silent tear away from her face, she heart the others mumble something about moving on and turned back, following behind them silently. One thing was for sure, losing Leliana and her brother all in the same day, Lana knew that her heart would never be completely whole again. She glanced at the back of Leandra Hawke who walked with Bethany ahead of her, and realised that any ounce of hope she'd left had just been shattered. Her mother had seen to that. Lana sighed. She didn't feel much like going to Kirkwall anymore. It would never be home. Stealing once last glance back at the smoking village in the distance behind her, Lana blew a kiss towards it, unbeknownst to the others. Goodbye, Lothering... She sniffed and wiped away another tear, thinking of the Orlesian bard. Her heart broke, realising she would never see her again. Goodbye, Leliana...

Thanks for reading guys. I didn't intentionally set out to write this much (but when do I ever? lol) The sequel to A Pirate's Charm is already being written as I was doing both stories simultaneously. I will have it uploaded in the next few days or so. Hope you all enjoyed this little prequel and stick around for Isabela and Lana's adventures post DA2. Thanks to everyone who took the time to reviews Gracias a todos. Adiosss TSOA ;)