.x.
It's already noon and he's found nothing. None of them have. He arrives at the Gallows and speaks with Knight Captain Cullen, who offers him a tired smile as he approaches.
"Fenris," he nods. "How can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Hawke. Have you seen her?"
"The Champion?" he clarifies. "I haven't seen her since..." he trails off, racking his mind for the information, "...weeks ago, really. She came by to say hello and ask how Recruit Kerran was."
"And not since then?"
"No, not that I know of. Why, is something wrong?"
He hesitates for a moment, Anders accusations from earlier resurfacing in his mind.
"She's been missing for three days. We're trying to find her."
"You think she would be here?"
"It was a possibility."
Cullen casts a glance over his shoulder, as if making sure he is clear, then he leans a little closer, lowering his voice. "I have not seen her, but I know that Commander Meredith has had no small ire over her status in the city as of late. I'll check, just to be sure, though."
Fenris nods in way of thanks, and turns to leave.
A Tranquil mage brushes past him, looking at him dispassionately, and for a moment he sees Hawke in her place, warm kind eyes dull and lifeless, livid red brand upon her sun-kissed forehead. He blinks and the vision disappears as quickly as it had formed. The tranquil girl politely begs his pardon and continues on her way. Under his breath he curses Anders' fear mongering.
He decides to speak to Solivitus, the shop keeper Hawke often goes to for potions and the like, but he hasn't seen her either. Neither have any of the Templar recruits, who stare at him with wonder as he passes by. The Gallows provide him with no answers, so he moves on to Hightown.
Damn Hawke and her damn need to help people very damn time they ask. He knew this would happen, one day, that someone would take advantage of her charity. He doesn't know who is to blame, but when he finds them, they will wish they had never thought to harm her.
His heart seizes at the thought, though. There are few less deserving of it. Yet he himself has harmed her, terribly. It's three years behind them, but he can still see her heart breaking on her face as he turned and walked away, can still hear her cry out for him one last time before he'd fled.
He's been trying to find a way to apologize. He knows what he did was wrong, and moreover he has regretted it every day since. He had resigned himself to leaving the matter where it laid, half expecting her to go running into the arms of the mage who incessantly threw himself at her (even though she didn't seem to be aware of his advances the majority of the time), or perhaps Sebastian, who despite his vows of chastity looked at Hawke with a longing he understood far too well, but she had not. She'd never looked at another, even after what happened, to his knowledge. And it wasn't as if she had a deficit where admirers were concerned.
A sigh escapes his lips, as he reprimands himself for this train of thought. He has no time to pity himself or regret his foolish mistakes. Hawke needs him.
"Elf! Ah- Wolf bloke, ugh, Maker dammit what's your name?"
He turns to the offending voice, fully prepared to start tearing throats out when he comes face to face with Hawke's uncle, Gamlen.
"Ugh, finally! Thought I'd have to chase you all over this blighted city."
"What do you want?" He man sneers at his curtness, crossing his arms. "Good to see see Little Goody Two Shoes hasn't rubbed off on you any, you prick."
It is only out of respect for Hawke that he doesn't knock this fool unconscious.
"I heard she's missing. People been asking about her. I want to know what's going on."
"You already know the whole of it, then. She's missing, and we're trying to find her."
"That's it? Who took her? Where is she?"
"If I knew that, I wouldn't be here."
"Got a damn mouth on you, don't you boy?"
He turns and starts walking away.
"I'm not done with you, knife ears!"
A few guardsman on the corner turn and look at Gamlen, readying themselves for an altercation.
"Say what you will and make it quick."
"I want to help you."
He's not sure he's hearing quite right.
"You know there's no reward to be had for finding her, don't you?"
The gray haired drunk runs a hand over his 5 o'clock shadow, sneering at him.
"I know that, you blighted bastard! I'm not doing it for any damn coin."
"Then I fail to see why you'd care-"
"I care because she's my niece! I," he falters, lowering his voice, "I haven't- I'm not always the... easiest person to get along with. I know that."
A vast understatement. It is by the grace of the Maker that Fenris has held his temper this long, with all that's going on.
"But she helped me get back something-someone very dear to me."
"You mean your daughter." He had been there when Hawke met her cousin for the first time. Distinctly, he can remember the pangs of envy he had felt.
"Yes. And I won't let what happened to her mother happen to her too. Our family keeps getting smaller and smaller." He sighs, shaking his head. "So I'm going to help you find her. Now where are we going?"
He almost argues, but he realizes it's pointless. Her uncle is just as stubborn as she is, if not more so.
"I've just covered the Gallows, and we've already gone over the Docks. The others are checking Lowtown and Hightown. I'm open to suggestions."
"The Chantry, maybe?" Gamlen shrugs. "Or the Blooming Rose? She comes in there sometimes."
Fenris almost stops dead in his tracks. Hawke? At a brothel? But he was sure that she-
"I mean, she comes in there, yeah, but not what you think. She gives donations to Madame Lusine. Plays with that little brat that runs around the place." He laughs, shaking his head. "She's too hung up on you to be interested in any of them, anyway."
A choking cough bursts forward from him, a blush settling on his cheeks and the tips of his ears. Gamlen laughs even harder. "Embarrassed you did, I? Come on, this isn't a surprise to you, is it? All she ever did when she lived with me is fawn over you."
"I seem to recall her working hard to fund a successful expedition into the Deep Roads around that time," he snaps.
"Alright, she only fawned during her free time. Ridiculous. Nice, I guess. Used to feel that way about someone myself." He's not sure how to respond to that, so he remains silent.
"I messed up. Lost it. Best thing I ever had. You'd do well not to make the same mistake. The people-" he falters, rubbing the back of his neck in discomfort. "The people we care about are more important than anything else this world has to offer."
Fenris can't tell what the man knows, and what he's inferring. "Thank you for your advice."
"Don't patronize me, elf, I know what I'm talking about." Despite his irritated tone, the man smiles a little. "I know those sods over there," Gamlen says pointing, more than ready for a change of subject. "Let's go talk to them, see if they know anything."
Author's Note: Oh, Gamlen, feeling parental, are we? Gotta love that guy. Or not.
To all of you still with me, thanks for sticking around! To those just joining us, kick back and enjoy yourselves! Feel free to leave reviews if I messed anything up!
Next chapter: Anders! And Justice! It's a short one, but stay tuned!