I had a really hard time doing this one, thanks go out to toxic mayhem for helping me get over the creative stump I ran into here. Luvs ya lady. Bioware still owns everything but one of these days the addicted fans shall take control muhahahahaha.

Thank you to everyone for the awesome reviews they really made me smile.

Heads up everyone the 'big reveal' is coming up in a few chapters!

Stars Fall

Chapter 25 Mourning

Hawke and Fenris entered her estate just after the sun had set one evening. They had just left Ben and Varric going over different crossbow styles at the Hanged Man. Fenris' reading lesson was to take place at Hawke's tonight, seeing as how she had all the supplies for teaching him to write at her home still. Aside from the murder of the Viscount's son it had been a quiet week. Ben had been in Kirkwall almost three weeks and was fitting in very well with Hawke's companions, apart from Sebastian who was still unhappy about Ben's opinions of the Chantry and the Maker. Even Aveline had taken a liking to him. Hawke was just in the middle of explaining her lesson plans to Fenris, when a loud voice, resembling Gamlen's, coming from the main room made them exchange looks, and quickly go into the next room.

Hawke's mother had been taken by the Kirkwall Killer.

Hawke ran out of her estate to find her mother, Fenris quickly stopped her, speaking urgently. "Do you have a plan Hawke?"

Hawke looked frantic for a moment, thoughts racing through her head, finally an idea popped into her head. "There's a man in Darktown, named Gascard DuPuis, if anyone can tell me where my mother is it's him."

Fenris nodded his head quickly, "Hawke we may need help with this, you go to the Hanged Man, pick up Ben and Varric, I'll meet you in Lowtown with Gascard."

Fenris turned to walk away, a thought occurred to Hawke, "How will you know who he is?"

Fenris continued moving, speaking over his shoulder, quickly to her, "You told me he was Orlesian noble and a blood mage, there cannot be too many of those in Darktown. I will find him, I'll meet you in the Lowtown market soon." Fenris finished as he disappeared around the corner.

Hawke immediately took off running, moving as fast as she could to get to the Hanged Man.

Varric and Ben jumped from their seats when Hawke burst through the door of Varric's suite. The wild eyes and franticness she displayed instantly put them on edge. Ben spoke first, "Eve, what's wrong?"

She spoke quickly, "The Kirkwall killer may have my mother, I need your help to get her back."

Ben and Varric both immediately rose from their chairs. Ben joined Hawke at the door as Varric grabbed Bianca and quickly followed them. Once outside the Hanged Man, Varric spoke firmly, "What's the plan Hawke?"

Hawke get her eyes forward as they approached the market, "We may be going to Darktown, to talk to Gascard DuPuis, Fenris said he would bring him here, but I don't believe he can find him."

A voice from the other side of the market made them all jump, "I found him easily enough."

They all turned in the direction of Fenris' voice. Hawke couldn't believe her eyes, there standing on the other side of the market, wearing his typical scowl was Fenris. Standing beside him looking very dazed and confused was Gascard Dupuis. Hawke and the others ran over to them.

Fenris looked at Gascard quickly before turning his attention to Hawke, "I spoke with him on our way here, I told him what Gamlen and Bodahn spoke of at your estate. He believes he can find your mother." Fenris looked sharply at Gascard, giving him his death stare, "Tell her everything you told me. Now."

Hawke glared daggers at the now cowering blood mage, "I know a spell, it will allow me to track the other woman he took, Alessa. It will show us the way, however it can only be done with blood magic."

Hawke didn't even blink, "Do it."

Neither Ben nor Varric objected, and Fenris nodded his head slightly, in approval.

Gascard's blood tracking spell led them to the foundry Hawke had found human body parts in several years ago. Only this time the person responsible for the body parts forgot to cover their trap door.

Once inside the killer's lair, they were immediately attacked by demons.

Fenris still wore his scowl, "Looks like we're in the right place."

Hawke looked sharply at him, "Mother must be here somewhere, we need to look around. I need to find her."

Fenris nodded quickly, and gestured towards a side passage with his hand. Hawke took off running again, Ben, Varric, and Fenris, following her closely. Gascard followed them silently at a distance.

After several moments they were attacked by corpses, shades, and of course more demons, Hawke and her group entered a large chamber, furnished as though someone was living there. They spread out looking for clues. Varric found books on Necromancy that made Fenris growl, Ben found notes from someone who signed their name only as 'O', Gascard flipped through the pages of a necromancy book, Hawke was studying another note about some man's beloved, when Fenris called her name. They gathered around where Fenris was standing to see what he had found.

Hawke didn't think she could be more confused.

Right in front of them, the killer appeared to have set up some kind of shrine, and in the place of honor was the portrait of a woman who bore a striking resemblance to her mother. Fenris turned away from the shrine, a gleam on the floor caught his eye, as he walked over to it he spoke, pulling Hawke's attention away from the portrait, "This man is either very devoted or very insane."

Hawke turned away from the portrait, "My money's on insane, and soon he'll be very dead."

Fenris picked up the gleaming object that had caught his attention and held it out for Hawke to inspect. "This is my mother's locket." Her voice caught in her throat.

Ben appeared at her shoulder, a grim look in his face, "This isn't a good sign."

Hawke started moving again, her companions, and Gascard still following her, and looking for any other information. Hawke soon started feeling her 'star alarm' going off, the smells that followed it instantly made her and the others gag. "Oh Maker's breath that smell." Hawke tried to hold her breath unsuccessfully. Resisting the urge to gag she looked other her shoulder to check on her companions, Ben, Gascard, and Varric were turning different shades of green, and Fenris appeared to be attempting to hold his breath as well. Breathing only through her mouth she cautioned them, "Whoever is responsible for all this, is close, I can feel it." They all nodded slightly, drawing their weapons.

Hawke led them down a narrow passage, guided by her 'star alarm', knowing full well it would lead them to whatever evil was responsible for this madness. And it did.

Hawke, Gascard, and her friends watched as a grey haired man rose from his chair and addressed them. He spoke to them in a creaky and cracked voice, "I was wondering when you'd show up. Leandra was so sure you'd come for her."

Hawke glared angrily at the man, "I assume she also told you that I would kill you for this?"

The man smiled at her, Hawke felt a shiver run down her spine when she saw how empty it was, "She did, she spoke so fondly of you. What a lovely gentle woman."

Hawke snarled at the man as Gascard stepped forward, "Quentin."

The man turned his smile to Gascard now, "Gascard? So you've reached me after all these years. I figured you'd gave up."

Quentin walked towards them, stopping just a few feet from Hawke and her friends. Hawke immediately sensed something was wrong, she turned her head to look at Gascard, "You never mentioned you knew his name."

Gascard looked at Hawke briefly before turning away, "What does it matter?"

Hawke glared angrily at the man, "You fucking liar!"

Quentin continued to smile at them, "I suppose he told you that he was trying to stop me? That is quite opposite the truth I'm afraid, he is my pupil, you see."

Gascard glared at Quentin, "I'm going to learn all your secrets old man. Once I do I will be more powerful than…."

Gascard was immediately silenced with a bolt through his throat. Hawke looked behind to see Varric still aiming Bianca at Gascard's falling corpse. Varric shot her a quick smile, "What? You were going to do that right?"

Hawke gave her dwarf a small smile, before turning back to Quentin, his back was to them, his tone angry as he spoke, all traces of the empty smile, gone, "You will never understand my purpose." He turned again to Hawke, "Your mother was chosen because she was special, and now she is part of something…..greater."

Hawke snarled at the man, her patience gone, "You're fucking crazy, I get it, really I do. Now where the fuck is my mother?"

Quentin's empty smile returned, and he looked over his shoulder, "I have done the impossible. I have touched the face of the Maker and lived!"

Fenris snarled beside Hawke, Ben cursed under his breath, Varric retrieved his bolt from Gascard's back, and Hawke rolled her eyes and shook her head at the man, crazy people never give straight answers, but if this monster doesn't start talking soon I'm gonna kill him before he can finish his damned monologue.

Quentin moved to the table, "Do you know what the strongest force in the universe is? Love. I pieced her together from memory and now no force on earth shall ever part us."

Hawke hadn't noticed the thing sitting in the chair Quentin stood next to, until it rose and turned to face Hawke. Hawke couldn't believe her eyes. Her companions took in the creature that slowly moved away from the table.

"Venhedis!" Fenris snarled.

"Andraste's flaming ass!" Varric said with a gasp.

Ben was silent, but his face was full of anger, pain, and disbelief all at once.

"You are fucking dead!" Hawke spoke slowly as she glared daggers at Quentin and ripped off her gauntlets.

Quentin threw up a protective shield over himself, and summoned all manner of vile creatures from the Fade. Hawke and her friends took up their battle stances and attacked.

Hawke tore threw the creatures, moving completely on her own, stabbing at them with her daggers and if they got to close she simply grabbed onto them with her bare hands, making them recoil enough for her or one of her companions to stab them. She smiled wickedly at Quentin, she wasn't in the Fade this time, burning demons would not harm her, and now she was pissed.

Quentin's shield flickered as he watched Hawke move closer to him. Hawke abandoned the Fade creatures, knowing the others could easily finish off the remaining few. Her eyes were locked on Quentin.

Quentin slit his wrist attempting to throw up another shield to protect himself, but Hawke was too close. She lunged forward, throwing everything she had into her last few strides, managing to grasp Quentin's arm as she fell to the floor dragging him with her.

Hawke rose quickly from the floor, and punched Quentin in the stomach making him grunt in pain. She slowly moved her hand from his sleeved arm to his face. Hawke's face was angrier than any of her companions had ever seen it, as she spoke, "Let's see if there is anything human left in you." And she quickly placed both her hands on either side of Quentin's face. The man screamed in pain.

Hawke glowered at the man, crying out from the intense pain her touch caused him "Apparently not much, I figured you were more demon than human."

He tried to twist away from her but she refused to loosen her hold. Quentin's eyes rolled up into his head. Hawke took one hand away from his face, and used it to plunge her dagger in the man's vile heart.

Hawke shoved Quentin's body away from her, and she ran over to the creature that was her mother. She caught her mother in her arms as Quentin's magic tying her to this world began to fade. Hawke forced herself to be strong, she knew she wouldn't have her mother for much longer.

Leandra looked upon her eldest child through unfamiliar eyes, "I knew you would come."

Hawke forced a smile, "You know me, always saving the day."

Leandra smiled at her, "Shhhh…darling. That man would have kept me trapped in here. But thanks to you I get to be free. I shall see your father and brother again. I'm sorry to leave you here all alone."

Hawke inhaled sharply, "I'll be fine mother."

"My little star has become so strong. I love you dear. I shall be alright, I got my daughter back in the end, that meant so much to me."

Hawke closed her eyes briefly, "I love you too mother. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that."

Leandra raised her hand to Hawke's face, "Do not worry yourself, darling you've always made me so proud."

The hand fell from Hawke's face, Hawke remained frozen to the ground, her companions behind her silently for a few moments.

Hawke slowly rose from the ground, her mother in her arms, and turned to leave that horrible place. Before she got a few feet however she spoke, not turning her body at all,

"Destruere corporum Fenris. Ego volo facio certus nee ullae mallum magicae possunt afferre monstro illo retro."

Fenris answered her quickly, "Intelligi." And he nodded for Ben and Varric to follow her while he destroyed the bodies of Quentin and Gascard. Only after the footsteps of his companions faded did Fenris realize that Hawke had spoken to him in perfect Arcanum. The realization shocked him so much that he dropped the torch he hand been holding, it conveniently fell on the piled up bodies. Fenris watched them burn wearing his emotionless mask as he pondered this new discovery alongside with Leandra Amell's gruesome murder.

Leandra Amell's funeral, held the following day was large, not as large as the funeral for the Viscount's son had been but still large. All of Hawke's companions attended. Hawke, Gamlen, and much to Kirkwall's surprise, Ben, all stood in front as members of the family. After Leandra had been sent off to the Maker's side, Gamlen quickly left for his home in Lowtown. Hawke and Ben followed his lead shortly after, returning to her estate.

Fenris felt his heart ache again as he took in Hawke's pained expression as Ben steered her out of the Chantry with his arm around her shoulder. He decided to give Hawke sometime before he would go check on her.

Only a few hours had passed when Fenris found himself knocking on Hawke's door. Bodahn greeted him with a tear-streaked face, and allowed him to enter. Fenris saw Ben staring into the fire in the main hall. Ben didn't turn as he heard him approach, Fenris sighed, "How is she?"

Ben still didn't turn, his tone cool "Considering she just lost her mother? I'd say she is a bit torn up, although I'm honestly not sure, she hasn't really spoken about it."

Fenris looked into the fire as well, Ben turned to look at the elf, "Maybe you would have better luck."

Fenris shook his head "I doubt that, I'm probably the last person she would want to see."

Ben huffed at him "Alright I'm done playing nice, you get your ass up there and talk to her or so help me you will regret it."

Fenris turned his head quickly to meet Ben's gaze, Ben just glared at him, "She told me what happened between you two." Fenris' eyes widened before he quickly looked away scowling, but Ben wasn't done, "After what you did I think the least you can do for her is talk to her, show her that you do actually give a damn what happens to her even though you try to make it seem like you don't."

Fenris sighed, "And what would you have me say to her?"

Ben met Fenris' eyes directly, glaring angrily at the elf "You don't need to say anything, just be the friend she needs right now."

Fenris nodded and surrendered and went upstairs to Hawke's room. He didn't even bother with the door, he willed his markings to life, and walked right through it.

Hawke was sitting on her bed, like Ben, she too was gazing into the fire. Fenris moved towards her slowly, keeping his voice quiet and calm "I don't know what to say but I am here."

Hawke turned her head towards him, her eyes shone with tears and pain, her voice cracked a little as she spoke "Just say something, anything."

Caught off guard Fenris said the first thing that popped into his mind "They say death is only a journey. Does that help?"

Hawke laughed softly "It just raises questions. Journey to where?"

Fenris sat down beside her on her bed "I don't know. It's just something people say, to be honest I don't think there is much point in filling these moments with empty talk."

Hawke looked at him once more "Oh?"

Fenris nodded his head "Why will you not speak to Ben?"

She rolled her eyes and returned her gaze to the fire "Ben is having a hard time too. He never really knew his mother, he was only a year old when she was killed. My mother kind of became his mother as well, even though we never spent much time with her."

Fenris looked into the fire as well "I see."

The two sat in silence for a while. Fenris studied Hawke, she almost seemed broken and yet unbroken, sad and yet happy. She was truly confounding him, so he asked her "How are you Hawke?"

Hawke inhaled slowly "Honestly I'm better than most people would be, I'm devastated I lost my mother, but I'm happy that I at least got to know her better these past few months. I'm upset that I didn't give her a chance sooner and she was taken from me so quickly but I'm glad that she at least seemed truly happy during these last months."

Hawke looked at Fenris with a weak smile "I guess it's safe to say I'm conflicted."

Fenris gave her a weak smile now "It does seem that way."

Hawke looked at the fire again "What do I do now Fenris?"

He looked at her questioningly "I believe I asked you something along that line once Hawke, and you told me to move forward."

Hawke smiled a bit more to remember that conversation, before her smile broke and the tears she had been fighting back broke free. Hawke covered her face with her hands as the tears continued to flow.

Fenris sat quietly at Hawke's side for what seemed to be hours, listening to her cry softly, her pain and sadness felt as though it were physically wounding him, suddenly an idea came to him. He could only hope it would help her.

Hawke felt Fenris take her hand gently in his own, and quickly looked up at him. He wore his emotionless mask as he stood, gently but firming pulling her behind him, as he led them out of her room and down to the cellar.

Fenris was slightly shocked by how she didn't resist him as he led her unerringly through her home. Once inside the training room in the cellar, Fenris pulled Hawke to the open space in the middle that they used for sparring practice. He released her hand, leaving her standing in the empty space while he went into her workshop to retrieve her sparring medallions.

Fenris had to force himself to not look into her puffy, sorrow filled eyes, he couldn't help but notice that where the crystal blue of her eyes seemed had always seemed so full of life and sparkle, now seemed dim and dull. He placed the medallion around her neck, and one around his own. Hawke still didn't respond, sighing he took her arms in his hands and positioned them in front of her in her, molding her into her defensive stance.

He hadn't planned anything beyond this, so now he was uncertain of how to proceed, how to get her to respond. An idea suddenly occurred to him, half smirking he dropped into a crouch and very gently and carefully kicked on of his legs out in front of him, knocking Hawke on her back.

Fenris straightened out of his crouch quickly, and smirking he leaned over Hawke, who was now staring up a him, shock written clearly all over her face. "I had originally believed you might be a match for me Hawke, clearly I was mistaken." He said mockingly.

Hawke's jaw dropped and she sat herself up "Great make me feel better why don't you."

Fenris rolled his eyes, grabbed her hand and drew her up again. Forcing her into her stance and knocking her down again, he did this at least a dozen times before Hawke snapped. Fenris swept one of his legs out in front of him and Hawke shocked the hell out of him by slipping her foot underneath his leg, and used his own momentum to make him kick himself. Fenris rubbed the spot on his chest where he had been struck by his own leg, Hawke glared at him "You deserved that and you know it."

Fenris smiled wickedly at her "Please Hawke, I let you land that blow."

Hawke fumed and lashed out at him wildly "Bullshit!"

Fenris simply kept up his wicked smile as Hawke struck out at him, and every time he easily blocked her blows. He taunted her more "Have you even started trying yet Hawke? Or is this uncontrolled flailing a new tactic Isabela has taught you? If so it is a poor one indeed."

Hawke snarled at him, as he once again caught her hands in his own. He quickly took in her face, her eyes were wild and uncontrolled with fury. He softened his features, attempting to calm her down enough to focus. Hawke stared back into his emerald green eyes, they were soft and gentle, they had a slight amount of worry in them. Hawke felt her mouth form a perfect 'O', as she slowly understood what he had been doing. Fenris had allowed her to take all her rage out on him.

Hawke smiled softly at him, and removed her hands from his. She gave him a reassuring smile, and quickly hugged him, whispering in his ear "Thank you Fenris."

Fenris smirked at her, as he moved away from her and took up his stance once more "Your welcome Hawke, now shall we have some real practice then?"

Hawke's smile grew a bit "I'm always willing to kick your ass", and using the techniques he himself had taught her, she launched herself at him.

Basic google translator again

Destruere corpum Fenris. Ego volo facio certus nee ulla mallum magicae possunt affere monstro ill retro. = Destroy the bodies Fenris. I want to make sure no amount of vile magic can bring that monster back.

Intelligi.= Understood.