Later

Cullen sent word to have a regiment of Templars gather the bloodmage's possessions. He met them at the docks, led them to the foundry, and escorted them back to the Gallows. He couldn't afford any of the notes to be lost – they were too dangerous.

When he was in the foundry with his men, Aveline had gathered guards to patrol the area and clear out any remaining abominations, and Sebastian had sent for the Chantry to gather the remains of Leandra and Alessa. Varric and Fenris were gone by the time he left.

Meredith, having read Cullen's note that included mentions of foul bloodmagic, demanded a debriefing in person. Once he finished his recount of the evening's events, Meredith briefly scanned through the bloodmage's notes as the said, "All this to find the mother of Serah Hawke?"

"The Hawke sisters are friends of the Guard-Capitan's, and are members of an affluent noblehouse. I felt it prudent to assist in the search, due to prior Templar involvement in tracking these murders."

Meredith flipped through one of the notebooks, "Ah, yes. Ser Emeric." She snorted, "It seems his time wasn't wasted after all." She looked up at Cullen from her desk, "Hawke is the family name of the woman you've expressed interest in, is it not?"

"It is."

"She seems to have an appropriate distaste for bloodmagic," she folded her hands in front of her. "I imagine she will be undergoing a difficult time, in the wake of these... events," she opened one of her desk drawers and handed Cullen a sealed letter. "Go and comfort your intended, and see to it that she understands the necessity of the Order."

Cullen took the letter, and as soon as he was free of Meredith's office, he nearly ran out of the Gallows.

When the sisters had arrived home, for once without incident, they let their Uncle know what had happened, he decided he would be the one to write to Lizbeth, and then they informed the staff. Orana started crying, and seemed to be unable to stop, Bodan looked sorrowful, and Sandal even looked to be on the way to tears. A little later, the sisters made their way to Olisa's rooms. They paced the room for sometime, cursing and upset, trying to console one another. Olisa was crying freely and Marianna was on the verge of tears, eyes red and swollen, when Cullen arrived at his love's room. Marianna excused herself, knowing that Cullen would want to spend time with Olisa, and that Olisa needed the Templar. He could probably help her more than she could at this point anyway. She was as much of a mess as her sister.

So, Marianna left her sister's room and went to her own, but not before grabbing a bottle of whiskey from the liquor cabinet. She removed her armor and ax, being too distraught to take the time to clean and put them away properly. She removed her tunic and boots, and sat on the edge of her plush bed clutching the whiskey bottle in both her hands. She stared at the label, and wondered how everything could go so wrong.

Fenris had been pacing, and drinking Aggregio, when he decided that he would go to her – Marianna. He felt... He didn't know what he felt, but he didn't like that he didn't go to her. That he didn't make sure that she and Hawke made it home safely. And that's what he would do, he decided, go and make sure they were safe.

Still armored, all he did was gather his broadsword and leave for the estate. The door was locked when he arrived, and it looked quiet. He didn't want to wake anyone with a knock, so after a little deliberation, he decided to go to the back gardens and see if he could enter there. Being the time of year that it was, he doubted that any of the windows would be opened, but luck seemed to favor him, because one of the low kitchen windows had been left open to air out the smoke when dinner was forgotten.

He climbed through the window and immediately decided that he would never do this again. He felt shameful, like an intruder, but since he was there he might as well check.

He went up the main stair, and saw that Hawke's door was closed. When got closer, he could just make out the muffled voice of the Templar. Hawke was safe then. He walked down the nearby hall, passing Leandra's room, and approached Marianna's. Her door was partially open, there was only a soft glow of light coming from the room, and it was quiet. Suddenly overcome with the feeling that he should do something, Fenris entered the room.

When Marianna didn't look up as he walked toward her, deliberately taking loud steps so she would be aware of his presence, he said, "I do not know what to say, but I am here."

She looked up then, a look of pure misery and dismay etched onto her lovely face. Fenris felt something inside of him break at her expression, for he had only ever seen such looks on slaves before and never on a free woman, and went towards her taking a seat beside her on the edge of her bed.

Some time passed, neither saying a word, before Marianna softly said, "I can't even cry or get angry anymore."

Fenris felt a frown pulling at the corners of his mouth, "You have been through much."

Marianna sighed softly, and looked towards him for a second before dropping her gaze and saying, "First Father, Carver, Seamus, and now Mother. Who's next? Will all the people I care about die?"

"You and your sisters are strong," Fenris assured her.

"Carver was strong," Marianna twisted the whiskey bottle in her hands, "and he was killed by an ogre."

They fell into silence again, Fenris not knowing what to say or do, he stood to leave. He was surprised when Marianna grabbed his wrist to stop him, "Please don't go." He turned to look at her, and her head was tilted upwards to look at him. Her eyes were bloodshot and she was pale, "If you do, then Orana will make a fuss. And she's nice, but she's... She's done all she can."

"She is a kind person," Fenris agreed. "But you do not want kindness right now, you seek understanding." Marianna nodded, and Fenris frowned, "I have not... experienced this kind of loss before."

"That you can remember," Marianna amended. "You..." She trailed off, "At least don't let me drink alone. It won't... It won't be like last time." She didn't want to make him uncomfortable by forcing herself on him again. She didn't want to risk their friendship. He's been there for her after Seamus, and she knew she was asking a lot, but she knew he could help her now too.

…...

Note: Sadness! :'(