A/N: To anyone still following this story, you have my eternal thanks; to any still reviewing, you have more than that. I have put so much work and thought into it, I am glad to see that there are those of you who have been enjoying it. It's been a long process, but at least we've reached the end – a sequel is planned, to an extent, and if it ever gets written, I hope to see you there. As always, reviews are love! I would LOVE to hear what you thought of the conclusion.

Full Circle

Chapter Twenty-Six: Just Before the Dawn

"My, my, it seems our heroes are determined to stand in my way." Tsk'd a voice as a figure stepped from the shadows, behind Hawke, Amell, and their friends. "I should have known it wouldn't be so easy to rid myself of you and your murderous lover. I underestimated Sister Nightingale's friendship with the Warden; I never expected her to recruit Amell's help."

"Your Most Holy!" Cassandra was shocked, to say the least, almost to the point of losing her grip on Leliana, though she was quick to recover.

Amell shared a glance with Zevran, but he very subtlety cocked his head 'no – not yet' and she allowed herself to turn around so she could face the highest of highs, The White Divine. A bitter old woman who'd given her nothing but trouble since she and Zevran had arrived in the Free Marches; in truth, she was very…underwhelming, not at all what she'd had pictured in her mind. If she wasn't alerted to her status, she would have pegged her as a normal old woman – and it wasn't easy to fool her.

Hawke remained facing Cassandra, eyeing the Seeker with a measured gaze. She could feel the magic in her restoring more as the seconds ticked by, but she knew she would not be able to do much if the Templars saw fit to sever her ethereal tie to her mana. She closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath; the feel of the magic that Justice gave her was more profound, and so much more entrancing, pure, than the normal. She could feel the difference in the way it pulled at her, stroked over her, slid through her as if a part of her very soul. They had been caught unaware before but now she knew what she was up against, and could draw upon that part of the Fade that she had taken into herself; a thing Cassandra and the Divine would not have known of. Hawke's eyes slid open and she signaled the party to take up arms as she turned; Varric, Isabela, Fenris, and Zevran kept eyes on Cassandra as they armed themselves, Amell, Anders, and Hawke all now facing the Divine, staffs in hand.

Hawke's brows crushed together, lips pressed together thinly as confusion wafted through her. The White Divine – she was giving off an aura of deep maroon, tendrils slithering around her older body. A glance to Anders and Amell had her coming to the realization she was the only one who could see her that way. Something was wrong – very wrong. Off, disjointed; completely off kilter.

"What's the matter? Have the tongues of our heroes been frozen?" A grey brow rose, voice full of mockery. It only served to push her suspicions over the edge.

Hawke lifted her staff, pointing it in the old woman's direction; Cassandra cried out a curse, but the Divine simply lifted a hand to assure her assistance wasn't necessary. "You…" Hawke started, searching for the right words. "You're not the Divine."

"Blasphemy!" The cry was shouted from Cassandra, who tossed a barely standing Leliana aside. "You shall pay for your words!"

"Halt!" Fenris sneered and Hawke could literally feel as his markings lit dangerously across his whole body. She wanted to turn and look, but she dared not take her eyes from the woman before her. An inkling, a gut instinct, told her it would be a grave mistake.

"Cousin – what do you mean?" Amell stepped up beside her, a hand on her shoulder. Anders did the same and Hawke steadied herself, though the spreading cry of danger did not falter. Justice's magic was screaming hotly within her, warning her; she had cleansed him, and he had gifted her this magic, destroying himself in the process, but she knew it would never lead her astray.

"It is as I said – that…that is not the Divine." Hawke stepped from their hands and lifted her staff, arm extended. "I can see the stain of blood magic on you – see the aura of evil – and sense the…displacement around you. Who are you?"

"Very perceptive aren't you?" The old woman narrowed her eyes at Hawke, stepping forth until she stood at the very tip of the blade on the end of Hawke's staff. "However – you are not as you appear either, are you Dear Hawke?"

"Who are you?" Hawke grated out again.

"You'd do best to answer her," Anders warned as he stepped forward, a step ahead of Hawke.

"You, boy, have done more than enough," the old woman's hand lifted, swirled through the air, and before any single one of them could act, an invisible blast sent Anders flying across the courtyard into the brick wall.

"Cousin, go!" Hawke cried to Amell, not taking her gaze off the Divine as she felt the ancient magic rising to the surface, mana swirling around her slight form in a blue fiery haze. Amell did as she said, rushing across the courtyard to attend to Anders. The sound of steel on steel hit the air and Hawke knew that Cassandra had taken the opportunity to rush their group; Fenris and the others had to do their best to keep them back, while she figured out exactly what it was that was going on here. "Who are you?" She asked again. "I won't be asking again and if anyone else comes to harm at your hand, I will be swift in my retaliation. You can be assured of that."

Maniacal laughter bubbled from within the old woman, her body heaving with the force of it. Finally, when it subsided, she turned narrowed eyes on Hawke. "Your lover has helped move things along quite nicely for me; Thedas' fear of mages is at its peak, and there is no greater power than fear. You can see me as I am, Hawke," the woman drawled, her voice becoming deeper; reminiscent of a demon. The Divine was no mage, how a demon could be inhabiting her was perplexing. Someone else had to be behind this, pulling the strings on their political puppet. "And I can see you as you are, Hawke. Justice is a part of you – you feel him, and the great magic he has bestowed upon you. So tell me – who am I?"

The battle continued around them, as they stared each other down, but Hawke couldn't bring herself to turn and help, standing before the demon who she knew embodied fear as its most primal level. A demon of par with Justice; a being of the Fade that embodied one of the most powerful negative emotions in the history of life. "Fear," she whispered. The grin that spread across the woman's cracked lips was answer enough.

"Yes, Hawke – I am fear." She laughed, loud and obnoxious – the underlining demonic timbre made her involuntarily shudder. After a moment of indulgence, she narrowed her eyes on Hawke, lips twisted into sadistic smile. "I feel your fear. It feeds me." She chuckled, inhaling deeply. "It's intoxicating."

There was no way to hide her fear, not against a being who was made of fear and who fed on it. Grew with it, became more powerful as fear spread; that was irrelevant, in the end, whether she was afraid or not. She had no choice but to stop this abomination here. Thedas was awash in fear; mages feared the Chantry and the Templars, while the rest of the world feared mages and their magic. If this demon of fear was allowed free reign throughout Thedas, the fear it would be fed would make it unstoppable. "I may be afraid but I will not allow you to go through with your twisted plans." Hawke grit the words out between clenched teeth.

"You won't have any choice, Dear Hawke." The seemingly frail body stiffened, pulling up straight and defiant. "I was to execute you and your formerly possessed lover before the masses – feed their fear, but it seems I will have no choice but to finish it here."

"Who is doing this?" Hawke's eyes nearly slid to the side at the sound of his voice but she kept her gaze steady on the Divine. Anders had come to stand beside her, Amell with him making her unsure of who he posed the question to.

"The Divine is no mage," Amell answered, raising her staff to extend it toward the old woman like her cousin was doing. Hawke could feel her delve into her magic, powerful magic, and feel as their aura's clashed, tendrils of whispy magic dancing together in an ancient, yet familiar way.

"Then how could she become an abomination?"

"Anders – are you okay?" Hawke needed that answered before anything, her heart pounding loudly in her ears; her main source of fear was not being able to protect him from harm, after having been at his side for well over a decade now. Only in the last year had they grown so close, but she had run away from Kirkwall to keep him safe. Sacrificed everything to do exactly that. None of that had changed, not even now. She had no fear for herself, but for her friends. She would gladly lay her life down to protect her friends, and family, who stood and battled with her even now.

"Your cousin is a marvelous healer, love." He laid a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.

"Good." She sighed softly, relieved. The Divine stood on the end of their staffs, eyes narrowed, watching carefully. They seemed to be in a stand-off, each waiting for the other to slip up just enough to make their move. "Do you remember Kerran?"

"What does the Templar have to do – oh…"

"Yes, I believe it is something like that. A powerful mage placed this demon here." She narrowed her eyes on the Divine thoughtfully. "Tell me who is responsible for this."

The old woman chuckled, as if amused with their theories. She folded her thin arms. "I shall indulge you, simply because you won't be here for much longer. Let's call it your final request." Hawke moved to argue, but her lips snapped shut when the old woman waved a hand to cease her protest. "There are greater powers at work here than you realize, Hawke. You have enemies…in very high places."

"Hawke! It's the Black Divine!" The shout came from behind her, over the sound of weapons as the commotion continued around her. Amell turned and watched as her friend, Leliana, came rushing toward them, slicing open the throat of a guard who'd dared to try and get in her way. She came to a halt beside Hawke, daggers held up and ready. "I was investigating when Cassandra ambushed me – Her Grace had been visited by an unknown man, who it turns out was the Black Divine himself. The only explanation is that – "

"He used blood magic to summon a demon into Her Grace!" Amell finished.

"Maker," Hawke let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. There had been plans in motion since the very moment Anders had blown up the Chantry of Kirkwall, and none of them had had any idea.

"Oh what a clever bunch you are," the demon drawled, picking idly at her nails. Glowing eyes lifted and a smirk tilted the old woman's lips slightly upward. "Too little, too late. You won't be able to stop it now."

Leliana stepped forward, angling slightly in front of Amell, as if to help shield her should the woman attack. "The Archon will not be able to go through with his plans if he is lacking his figure head. Thedas would not follow him, not the way they would follow Her Grace."

"You cannot stop me," the demon growled and Hawke saw the first indication of impatience, her body angling forward, taking a more offensive posture. "Even if you kill me, you will be tearing Thedas apart. You will have murdered the Divine, the greatest crime there is to commit aside from killing Andraste herself."

"That may be true," Hawke sighed, "but it all comes down to how much we are willing to sacrifice to stop evil. If I have to be hated, ostracized, then so be it."

Everything became too silent then, the screams of dying men having faded and the sounds of steel hitting steel disappeared. Hawke's companions came to stand around her, Fenris and Anders taking up stance just slightly in front of her, warding her. She did not lower her staff, instead, she leaned forward with it, holding the very tip to the older woman's throat. "You cannot take us all on, and hope to win. This ends here."

The demon in the guise of the Divine stepped back slowly, face lowered. She began laughing, her whole body shaking with the force of it as it burst from her. That aura, that only Hawke had been able to see, exploded around her, wrapping around her, enveloping her until she disappeared. They weren't left to wonder for long, when the spot where she had vanished burst forth a blinding light; a roar split open the air around them, making them all cringe and cover their ears, it was deafening. Eyes cracked open as the light dimmed and Hawke truly felt fear in that moment. Before them was the demon in its true form, massive in stature, at least several stories tall, wide as several merchant stands; it was grotesque in appearance, veins of blood everywhere, massive horned head covered in numerous amounts of eyes – hundreds even. Its lanky fingers were tipped in enormous claws that could easily tear her apart, a spike tail smashing through the building behind it as if made of parchment.

Hawke knew they were outmatched, but they had no choice but to try. A demon like this could not remain loose in the world.

"Am I late?" Hawke's eyes widened at that voice and she turned to see a grinning Sebastian at the entrance to the courtyard, an army of trained men standing with him.

"Sebastian!"

"I hope you truly did not believe I would leave you alone in this." He chuckled and signaled to his men. "I am not about to let a demon taint the Maker's house. This demon dies today. Attack!"

It was as if chaos exploded into existence, taking tangible shape in the courtyard as the man rushed the demon abomination, greater in strength and size than any creature Hawke had faced, including the High Dragon that had nearly chewed her to pieces. Hawke and Amell sent the others forward with the men, the two mages, and Anders, falling back toward the edge of the courtyard where Sebastian was unleashing a rain of arrows upon the demon; they gathered just behind the Prince, though Anders took up stance beside him, standing with him, and using spells to assist. It made Hawke's heart swell, to see the two battling together, standing together, as they had in Kirkwall before the Chantry's destruction had ruined everything.

"The others will only be able to weaken it," Amell shouted over the roar of battle. "You and I must destroy it!"

"How?"

"Our blood is powerful, cousin. It is abhorrent, but I fear we have no choice!"

"Blood magic?" Hawke's eyes widened and she blanched; she hated blood magic, but part of her knew it had its uses – her father had used blood magic, and had never succumbed to a demon. He had been strong, and had even used that forbidden magic to keep demons sealed away.

"Blood magic is not strictly evil, cousin. We can use it for good and we have no choice; this is the most powerful blood magic I have ever seen! Our bloodline, together, is the only way to stop it!"

Hawke shuddered but nodded. Amell nodded as their eyes met. Her hand dipped inside her robes and fished out a dagger; keeping her stern gaze locked with Hawke's, she slit open her palm with a hiss before she passed the blade to her. Hawke held it for a moment, staring at the blood on the steel. She had said it herself – if she had to be hated to stop this from happening, so be it. Whatever it took to stop the demon that was hurting her friends, destroying the White Spire, and would tear apart Thedas if they failed. They couldn't fail, she wouldn't allow it. Gritting her teeth, she sliced open palm and allowed the dagger to clatter to the ground. Amell held out her palm toward her, blood dripping in a steady stream; Hawke mirrored her, flesh mere inches from flesh. They closed their eyes and the blood took on a life of its own, slithering up from the ground and around them. The magic, Justice's magic, hissed to life, setting her body on fire. She had to smother a cry of pain as the blood magic and Justice's magic fused together, making a pool of magic so powerful, she feared she would combust into nothing but ashes.

"Use the magic! NOW!" Amell cried out and they both turned toward the demon, sweeping out their palms to send the blood spraying. The magic from Hawke burst free, setting the blood on fire with Justice's blue flames; it sprang to life, leapt from the ground, swirled together into a ball of blue flaming magic. Together, they sent the magic forth with great speed.

The demon whipped around, its tail swiping nearly everyone out of its way and spread them out across the courtyard. It roared in defiance, its mouth of sharp teeth snapping together as it gathered a defense. Red light swirled around it, gathering, before it was shot forward to meet their attacks; their magics collided and the two balls of ancient energy fought to inches. Amell and Hawke grimaced, falling to their knees, but they didn't budge, each drop of blood that fell only fueling the magic within them.

"More!" Amell cried.

Hawke nodded and they both grabbed their bleeding hands, wringing out as much blood as they could manage from the gashes. Hawke sought that energy of Justice, reaching to its very depths, and pulling up every drop of it that she could. The Fade spirit materialized before them, translucent and benevolent; she imagined this is what he had looked like before he had been corrupted by human emotions. His gaze was on Anders and Sebastian who were sprawled upon the ground, unconscious – she hoped – from the force of the blow of the demon's tail. After a long second – that felt like hours – he lifted his head and walked forward to where the two balls of magic warred for dominance. He touched his hand upon Hawke and Amell's blue fire, then slowly disappeared into it, and suddenly Hawke cried out with pain as her whole body locked up. Her eyes flared, blue fire in their depths, much like she had seen in Anders many times before. She stood, and moved forward, stern steps. Strong. Each step pushed the magic forward, pushing the demon's back; it roared and tried to stand against her, but it couldn't. She kept pressing forward and she screamed an soundless scream, her body catching fire in iridescent flickering flames. With one final push, she sent the magic into the demon and watched as it reared back, skin cracking, splitting, before it literally vaporized.

All the magic faded and Hawke was left to stare for a brief moment, at the many men and friends scattered across the ground, before she fell forward and joined them.

"It's been six days," Anders bit his lip with worry as he paced Sebastian's office. Others were there with him, even Amell, Zevran, and Leliana, though Varric and Isabela had decided to return to Kirkwall but not before demanding they send word of Hawke's condition when it changed. They all had woke in the courtyard, completely healed and no clue as to what had happened, they had gathered Hawke and Amell up before traveling back to Starkhaven at Sebastian's behest. He knew when word spread the Divine had been murdered, shortly after taking Hawke and Anders into custody, it would only be a matter of time before they were hunted. Sebastian offered them sanctuary and Anders knew it would be foolish to turn it down, considering.

"Physically she is fine, Anders." Amell smiled as she stepped up beside her old friend and laid her hand on his shoulder, much like she had after he had confessed his gratitude that she hadn't turned her over to the Templars and warned her that he may be more trouble than she deserved. It was strange, to have her here, but at the same time it felt right; one way or another, it seemed to be fate that he was mixed up in this family. First Amell, and then Hawke. Cousins, who had been born for greatness.

"Why hasn't she woken then?" He snapped out, irritated. He knew his worry was making him snap at her, but he couldn't help it when it seemed as if the woman he loved was in an irreversible coma with an unknown cause.

"The battle…it took a great deal out of her. Patience and faith, my friend." She smiled reassuringly again before she moved away to seat herself with Zevran who was conversing with Leliana beside the fire pit.

"Sit still, Anders. I doubt you will help her stressing out so," Sebastian chuckled, his words belaying the worry Anders could see in his eyes and the lines that had been etched into his features over the last six days. Lines that he had as well.

"Sebastian is right. Sit." Fenris narrowed his eyes thoughtfully on him. "I will go check on her, if that will help."

It was strange, Anders realized, not to be bickering with the two of them. They were almost friendly. Ever since Justice had been taken from him, he didn't have the warring need to fight with the two men as he'd used to; the spirit had had more influence than he had realized to affect his relationships. "I think I need to see her, but…thanks, Fenris." The elf nodded but didn't respond and Anders couldn't help a slight smile as he walked from the room down the hall to the grand bedroom, Sebastian's bedroom, where Hawke was asleep.

He opened the door quietly, his heart thumping loudly in his ears. He had failed to protect to her and it was killing him not being able to help her now, after she had saved them all. He loved her, so much, there was no way he could ever convey to her how much, and it was such a failure to him that he could not protect her. With a soft sigh, he closed the door behind him as he stepped into the room.

"Anders, thank the Maker you're alive." The voice had his gaze jumping to the bed where Hawke was sitting up, a smile curving her beautifully pale lips. "Are you alright?"

"Am I alright?" He repeated as he hurried over to the bed, sitting on the edge. His arms found her, wrapping around her shoulders and pulling her to him. He shuddered with emotion, tears falling into her auburn hair. "Are you alright?" He pulled her back, his hands framing her face lovingly.

"Oh, I'm fine." She smiled and he wanted to rip out his hair with how…calm she seemed to be about all this.

"Fine? You were out for six days!"

"We needed time to recover. I have never used so much magic, so much of myself, as I did then." She smiled and leaned forward just enough to brush her lips against his.

"Thank the Maker, I was so worried about you – wait…" he stopped and narrowed his eyes as he leaned back, dropping his hands to grip hers. "You said 'we needed time to recover'." She smiled again and nodded. "What does that mean?"

"Justice came to me in my dreams, Anders, after the battle. Had the demon not rendered you unconscious, you would be as marveled by what had happened as I was. The magic…it was so powerful, so pure, given how it's normally perceived. I see now that it's not the magic that is evil, but the users." She chuckled softly and shook her head. "He whispered 'at last you understand, Hawke' and laid his hand upon my stomach. 'And so shall your children when they change the very fabric of the world you live in. Together, the twins stood as everything they knew burned to ashes around them and birthed a new life into the world.' I'm pregnant, Anders, with twins. Our twins – our children."

Anders froze and struggled to regulate his breathing. Justice had not only delivered them the news that they would be parents, but a prophecy for their children; so many emotions warred within him. Slowly, a smile spread across his face. Children – he was going to be a father, something he had thought was impossible after he'd become a Grey Warden. Prophecy or not, he would cherish Hawke and their children every day he was alive, every day he had before his calling demanded his life.

He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "I love you, Hawke."

"I love you, Anders," Hawke chuckled as she wrapped her arms around him in return. "It's been a hell of a journey and it seems we aren't finished yet, but I would not want to be anywhere but here, with you."