Defiance hisses. "Why the fuck did they dig this up? They should've left it buried."

The dwarf starts stirring, already crawling back to the idol.

Ilska slams a foot down onto his back.

Defiance crouches down in front of him. "Is this why you left them?" they ask, gesturing back towards the idol.

"It's mine, it's mine, it sings to me, it's mine!"

Defiance straightens. "We need to destroy it."

"NO!" The dwarf grabs frantically for it, his eyes wild.

Defiance kicks it away, and stands on the dwarf's wrist. "You don't get a say in this."

Cia scoops it up, and considers it for a moment, before lifting it high over eir head and hurling it down at the ground.

The thing shatters, shards of red glowing rock going everywhere. In Cia's hands, it thrums like lyrium.

Ey steps rapidly backwards, shivering.

"We need to get rid of the remains. Put it somewhere it can't hurt anyone."

“It already has,” Karl says. Tears stream down his face, and he looks ready to fall to the ground. 

-Damnit. "I know, honey," Raeli agrees, stepping back to him, and touching his arm. "Can you get Ilska and Cia back to the clinic?"

He leans into the touch, feeling like she’s the only solid thing in the world. 

He nods, but his heart aches to go back there, the clinic the Anders set up because he was good and-

"Blaise, can you help me?" Raeli asks, not pulling away from Karl just yet.

Blaise nods hurriedly.

"Ilska?" Cia says quietly, skirting the smashed remains of the idol to hover near eir sister.

What was he supposed to do now? His whole reason for breaking out was Anders, so they could live free together. He wished he was dead too. Or Tranquil. 

Then he wouldn’t feel anything. 

Cia's managed to pull Ilska away from the dwarf, and towards Karl. "We should-" ey says, sounding utterly lost.

“Yes,” he agrees, sounding just as lost. 

He holds out a hand for em to take, united in their shared grief. 

Ilska guides them both back down to the clinic. She's still furious, but she needs to put that away. Needs to look after Cia. And Karl.

Karl follows her as if he’s in a trance. His entire world lacks colour. 

One week later, Varric mount the steps into Lowtown. “Kirkwall, I never thought I’d be so happy to see you.”

"First and last time anyone is ever gonna say that," Henri agrees.