On Fire

"Love is friendship set on fire"- Laura Hendricks

If this is to end in fire
Then we shall all burn together
Watch the flames climb high into the night
...We will stand by and watch the flames burn auburn on the mountain side

-Ed Sheeran "I See Fire"

A/N: I just couldn't get this story out of my head, so I've decided to put it here. Still going into AU territory, but this one's not nearly as dark as "Moon Tranced". New Hawke, new interactions, new story...I hope you enjoy!

Prologue: Hi, I'm Loretta Hawke, but you can just call me Hawke. I know a certain dwarf has been writing the story of the "Champion of Kirkwall" and all that, and I'm fine with that. Really, it's totally okay with me. People need a heroic person to swoop in full of grace, power, and charisma to save the day. Unfortunately, I am none of those things. I have never felt brave, have never felt powerful, and have never felt like I deserved all of this praise.

Perhaps my story isn't as death-defying and brilliant as some would think.

And yeah, here's a shocker: I didn't always do the smartest things. But at least it's my story to tell, and if it wasn't for the one man I loved, I wouldn't be alive to tell it to you today. So let me take you back to Ferelden, where my story begins...

"Come on, stop being a wet rag for once!" a young man by the name of Carver yelled.

The woman he was addressing seemed to be deep in thought as she toyed with the end of her straight, strawberry-blonde hair. Squinting at the canvas in the middle of the room, she dipped a paintbrush into a yellow color and proceeded to swipe the brush across broadly, creating the image of an afternoon sky. She didn't bother looking back at her younger brother to know that his face was turning an unsightly shade of red as his temper began to get the best of him. She'd better say something before he exploded.

The woman grunted in response, not at all happy with the way her sky was turning out.

"Put those blighted paints down, and talk to me, Loretta!"

Carver lunged for his sister, and yanked the brush from her delicate hand. Yellow smeared across the canvas unevenly, with bits of color dripping down the untouched portion.

Loretta Hawke whirled around, her brown eyes dangerously leering in his direction. Carver felt much smaller than he had a second ago.

"Well, you can't just leave, Carver!"

"I wasn't asking for your permission, Loretta. I leave tomorrow, and will be back in a month."

"A month?!"

"Is that a problem?"

"Yes, that's a problem, you twit!"

"Too bad I don't give two stones about what you think."

The door to the small sunroom opened, and shy eyes peered in on the pair.

"Guys, please stop shouting. You'll wake up Mother."

"Sorry, Bethany," the siblings mumbled simultaneously.

Loretta stepped on her brother's foot, and he slugged her shoulder. Hearing Bethany sigh again, Loretta and Carver settled down. Bethany was always the peace-keeper in the family. No matter how horrid their fights were, a few soft words from their sister was usually enough to stop the screaming, at least. The younger Hawke girl tucked her black hair behind her ear.

"What's this about? Arguing over Carver's job to kill a few darkspawn again?"

"The sightings have become more numerous. I don't want him going alone."

Carver brought his hands to his face as he pretended to cry.

"Boo hoo, look at me! I'm just mad that my baby brother is better than me at everythinggg!"

Loretta pushed past Carver, and flung the door open.

"Ugh, you hard-headed son of a nug!"

She slammed the door behind her, but tripped over something as soon as she stepped outside.

She heard Carver call after her, "Says the person who'd rather die than let Mother buy her a dress!"

Cursing under her breath, Loretta rubbed her scratched palms together on her beige pants.

I can't do anything right today! What in the Void could I have possibly tripped over now?

The large, colorful bouquet lay scattered across the lawn, with half of the flowers being crushed by the woman's fall.

She picked up a card next to her. It read:

Dear Bethany,

These flowers aren't half as beautiful as you are.

XoXo

Your Secret Admirer

"Surprise, surprise, they're for Bethany," Loretta hissed as she got up, and stomped across the small field towards a wooden building, plucking arrant petals out of her clothes and hair.

Her mother's condescending words echoed in her mind like a broken record, Bethany's much prettier than you, Dear. Plus, she's useful. All you do is ride that horse of yours into the woods during all hours of the day. Why can't you be more like a lady?

"Well I'm sorry, Mother," she yelled to no one in particular. "I'm not as pretty and useful as Bethany, nor am I as strong and powerful as Carver."

A winny greeted Loretta as she approached her family's barn. Her face softened into a small smile as she walked up to the horse stall, the sweet smell of hay and earth comforting her senses. Large, round, amber eyes watched her happily.

"At least I can talk to you, Sunburst," Loretta said quietly, burying her face in the horse's bright blonde mane.

Sunburst nickered his concern as he lipped her hair, causing the woman to giggle.

"What say you to a quick ride, eh?" Loretta said as she opened the stall door to lead the gelding out onto the green grass.

Looking up at the sky, there were a few unpleasant-looking clouds, but it didn't look like it was going to rain quite yet. She tacked up Sunburst effortlessly, her muscles and hands used to the actions after years of riding. But, just before setting off into the woods near their home, Loretta grabbed the ebony bow her father had gifted her, along with a full quiver of arrows.

"No sense in being defenseless," she recited to herself as she and Sunburst trotted off at a leisurely pace.

Riding a horse always forces you to clear your mind, or so Hawke thought. If she was ever anxious or nervous, Sunburst would spook or shy away from anything that moved. Riding calmed her soul and centered her mind. Loretta wouldn't change it for anything in Thedas. Loretta inhaled deeply, taking in the quiet nature surrounding them. The farther into the forest they got, the more serene their surroundings became.

Sunburst's ears flicked forward in attention: there was movement up ahead on the trail, and it didn't sound like a songbird or squirrel.

"Easy boy," Hawke cooed as she pulled the reins back slightly.

Loretta dismounted soundlessly, and readied an arrow to fire. Creeping forward and keeping her body as low to the ground as possible, the woman neared the area where she had heard the noise.

"H-hello? Is someone there?"

Loretta stopped at the sound of a strained voice calling out to her. Moving quickly from behind a tree, she brought her aim down when she saw a man laying on the ground. His eyes were closed, and when he coughed, Loretta could see drops of blood spraying over his fisted hand.

"Maker," she breathed as she gazed at the man gasping for air.

"We've got to get you to a healer, Serah."

The man attempted to wave his hand weakly.

"No, it's much too late..."

He moved his hand out of the way, revealing a gaping wound where the man's shoulder should have been. Loretta covered her mouth, and turned her face away from the oozing hole in the man's body.

"They've got Lothering surrounded on three sides," the man whispered hoarsely. "They're killing everything..."

Loretta's eyes widened.

"Killing? Who's killing?"

"The darkspawn. They're everywhere. You've got to get out of Ferelden while you can."

"Let me just get my horse, and I can carry yo- - -"

The man stopped breathing. Loretta checked his pulse before standing up in a daze. She shook herself so that her vision would focus once again before giving a high-pitched whistle.

Loretta took off running, and caught up with Sunburst, jumping on his back in a trick her father had taught her shortly before he died.

But before the pair got very far, Loretta's fears were confirmed: there, out of the corner of her eye, was a darkspawn. It's black and white face snarled as it leapt in front of them. Without hesitating, Loretta loosed an arrow that lodged itself in the back of the darkspawn's skull. Sunburst galloped past the fiend, but not before Loretta put it out of its abominable existence by shooting another arrow through its chest. Howls pierced the air around the horse and woman as they rode back as fast as they could.

"Carver, Bethany, Mother...hold on, I'm coming."