A Light Shining in Darkness (смешанная)

Примечания автора:
Been forever since I wrote anything but oneshots, but here we go. Let's see how long I'll take this.For new readers, this is going to be a Bethany-centric multi-chapter fic set in the modern AU first outlined in my oneshot "Born Free and Everywhere in Chains" reading it and its prequel, "Orphic Memories", might give you an edge over other readers in understanding hints and references, but I'll endeavour to keep it from becoming a requirement. Not that I wouldn't like for you to read them, you know. There are, however, some retcons from Born Free, so it's not precisely the same AU. Most importantly, the Mage Rebellion began in 9:37, not 9:34, and Marian Hawke is the Champion of Kirkwall. Viscount Dumar of Kirkwall is alive, Knight-Commander Stannard is not.The circumstances leading to Bethany being at the Conclave are broadly those outlined in my oneshot "Threnodies". This is, however, my separate modern AU, not the canon-setting used for that oneshot, which means amongst other things that Bethany never did meet Warden Amell (who's dead or tranquil in this continuity).I was disappointed with the strength and cleverness of the opposition posed by Corypheus, and the ease with which the Inquisition managed to accomplish all their aims. In keeping with the -- I believe -- fairly realistic modern setting, I'll try to make the struggle seem more real. The pairing is Hawkecest. If you're no fan of that, feel free to think of them as stepsiblings or whatever or, you know, just skip the relevant parts.The opening quote is from Tito's aria "Se all'impero" from Mozart's opera La Clemenza di Tito. Rough translation: "If, to rule, oh dear gods, / a harsh heart is required / then take from me the empire / or give me another heart." The awesome cover image was made by my dear friend Sumenya on deviantArt and is entitled "The Light Shall Lead Her".