Disclaimer: I do not own Bioware or Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Marian came to visit Anders in his clinic as she saw him settling down a bowl of milk.
"What are you doing?" Marian asked.
"Putting out milk." Anders' tone made it clear he thought it had been obvious as he got up on his feet. "I miss having a cat around." He sighed. "But I think the refugees have scared them all off. Or maybe eaten them." He gestured for Marian to follow him further into the clinic. "You know, I've been meaning to thank you. You and Wanda don't need to stick your necks out for the mages here, but you have. You let those apostates from Starkhaven start over. Maybe they can be an example for the world."
It was good to see the man feeling better. Then again, helping in the clinic did tend to make Anders feel better as well. "Mages cannot be treated guilty just by association."
"I can't tell you how reassuring that is. You follow your convictions." Anders gestured. "When you still believed in me after I almost killed that poor girl… I knew you meant it. You wouldn't say it just to make me feel better. You make me think I can really do this. Lead a revolution."
"I didn't realize you were planning anything that big." Marian frowned.
"No small change would address the injustice that mages face. The Chantry itself must be overturned. There will always be mages born in Thedas. But templars are made by men…" Anders shrugged. "And they can be unmade."
There were good men and women among the templars. Wesley. Emeric. Thrask. Moira. Even Cullen, for that matter. If only they were the normal ones, instead of folks like Karras and Alrik. "Why does this matter so much to you?"
"You saw Ser Alrik's plan. How many templars would prefer that every mage was a mindless drooling bane? In the Circle, they tell you day and night that magic is sin. A mark on your soul of the Maker's hatred. But for all the talk of demons, the most common death I saw for a mage was suicide." Anders said.
Marian had been a little girl they had settled down in Lothering. She could still remember those early days, never staying in one place longer than a few months because of Bethany. Even after they had found a home, she had still had to hide her sister. Always be slightly wary of the neighbors. Even more, now that most of the guards knew that she was being fond of mages, especially someone like Wanda.
"Your faith inspires me. Sometimes, I fear I cannot do this. Not while I struggle against this vengeance inside me. But I know you won't let me lose myself to him." Anders said but the look he gave her almost made her uncomfortable.
"Why do none of my friends ever just want to be the best wallop player in Lowtown?" Marian joked.
Anders laughed. That was good to see. "Would the great Marian Hawke deign to associate with the best wallop player in Lowtown? Seriously, though, I couldn't do this without your support. I couldn't…" He sighed. "Hold onto this spirit of vengeance inside me. But I know you won't let me lose myself to him."
When Wanda and Marian returned home, Gamlen was waiting for him at the house. The man appeared to be losing an argument to Sandal.
"Enchantment!" Sandal said happily.
"No, Leandra. Lee. Ann. Drah." Gamlen snapped, losing his patience.
"What's wrong, uncle?" Marian asked.
"There you are," Gamlen said, turning to face him. "Where's your mother? Is she feeling all right?"
"I'm sure she's all right." Marian said, though she frowned. "Why you so upset?"
"Your mother didn't show up for our weekly visit. Is she ill? She is here, isn't she?" Gamlen asked.
"No, Gamlen." Bodhan came out of the kitchen. "We haven't seen her all day."
"Where could she be?" Gamlen shook his head.
"With her suitor, perhaps?" Bodhan said.
"Suitor?" Gamlen looked almost affronted. "Leandra never mentioned a suitor."
"Well, those lilies arrived for her this morning." Bodhan gestured at where some white flowers were sitting on a side table.
Marian and Wanda shivered. "White lilies."
"Oh, no." Wanda paled.
"Don't just leave me waiting." Gamlen glared. "What is it?"
"There's a killer in Kirkwall who sends his victims white lilies before he takes them. He's murdered several women already." Marian said grimly.
"No." Gamlen was shaking his head in denial. "You're wrong. Leandra is fine."
"Aveline will get the city guard to keep an eye out. Don't worry, Uncle." Marian assured him.
"All… all right. That girl will know what to do." Gamlen relaxed. "Maybe… maybe Leandra took another path to my house. I could've just missed her. I'm going back to Lowtown."
"Bodhan, stay here with Sandal, in case Leandra comes back, we'll head out looking for her." Wanda said as the dwarves nodded.
"Varric!"
Varric jumped at the sound of Merrill's shout as she rushed into the Hanged Man tavern. "Maker's breath, Daisy. You just about gave me a heart attack." He blinked. "What's wrong?"
"Leandra's missing. White lilies." Merrill blurted out.
"Shit." Varric strode down the hall and knocked on Isabela's door. "Rivaini, we've got trouble." He glanced at Merrill. "You let Aveline know?"
"And Anders. They are on their way."
Varric nodded. As soon as Isabela opened the door, he told her to get Sebastian and Fenris, and then followed Merrill out of the tavern.
Marian had gone to the templars in the Gallows to inform then of Leandra's kidnapping. They were quite stunned at first but agreed to help her search for her mother.
It was late at night, when Marian and the rest met with Gamlen in Lowtown, talking to a boy.
"I told you already. I saw her!"
"Did you see where she went?" Gamlen asked desperately.
"What do I get for telling you?"
Wanda pulled out some coins from her pouch as she noticed in how bad state the boy's clothes and shoes were. It had been just like in Sokovia. Give a lot of money and you can buy anything from them. "Here's some gold for new food and shoes."
"That's real silver, that is!" The boy was examining the silver coins, excited. "I'm your man, through and through. I'll tell you everything I know!" He pocketed the silver into his pocket. "That lady was here. She looked like she was going to the bridge to Hightown. But then a man came up to her. He stumbled and fell over, right at her feet, like he was dead. His hands were all bloody, like he'd been in a fight. The lady shook him, and I think he said, 'Help'. She got to his feet, and he was wobbly—it was funny. Anyway, they left, and… that's all I saw."
"What did the man look like?" Marian asked.
"He was a man. He had hair and… a nose. And nice clothes, but they were all stained from the blood."
Gamlen sighed.
"We'll find her, it might not be too late." Wanda assured him.
Gamlen shook his head in confusion. "Why would anyone take? It doesn't make sense!"
"The man left some blood… where he fell over." The boy gestured to the blood spots on the ground. "You could follow it."
"Why don't you do what the boy says? I'm going to go home in case Leandra shows up." Gamlen suggested.
Marian and the rest followed the boy as Aveline joined them. "Never thought I say this, but Gamlen's right. My men can look for Leandra, while we checked the blood. Any leads help."
They indeed follow the trail of blood and found themselves in an abandoned foundry. Funnily enough, this place was all too familiar.
"You've been here before, haven't you?" Varric asked.
The human bones and demons.
"This is where you found the human remains all those years ago." Aveline said. "We should've known there was something else here."
"Mother must be here somewhere. We need to look around." Marian said as they followed the trail into the underground.
Varric had barely managed to get Bianca off his shoulder before Wanda had blasted apart the first group of demons, while Aveline and Fenris cut through them.
They found Alessa's body just inside the secret passage. She had not been dead long. Hawke immediately started moving again, and the rest of them hurried to catch up. The place smelled foul, like lime and rot.
Marian bent over to pick something up. "I know this locket. It belongs to Mother."
Part of the underground passage had been turned into something resembling living quarters. More demons appeared, and corpses began to rise as they entered. Varric fired Bianca, Sebastian fired arrows, while Aveline, Isabela and Fenris again engaged them before Wanda turned them into ashes, while Anders blasted them.
"Does he… live here?" Marian bent, and looked at some papers on the ground.
Wanda looked at the books, dread filling her. "Necromancy. Whoever lives here, is playing with dead."
"The Templars will want to confiscate those." Aveline said.
Marian narrowed her eyes before rising and walking towards a shrine positioned against the wall. "What… is this?"
They took a closer look at the woman's face on the portrait.
Wanda narrowed her eyes. "Is it just me or…"
"That woman in the portrait looks like Leandra, doesn't she?" Aveline's voice was disturbed.
"Creepy." Varric said, all of them worried about Marian's mother even more.
"I need to find her. Now." Marian said as they rushed deeper into the tunnels.
The robed man was standing in front of another figure, one seated in a chair. He looked up as they entered. "I was wondering when you'd show up. Leandra was so sure you'd come for her."
"Where is she?" Marian demanded. Varric cocked Bianca, and saw the others preparing for a fight.
The robed man stepped towards them. "You will never understand my purpose. Your mother was chosen because she was special, and now she is part of something… greater."
"Spare me the demented rambling. Where is she?" Marian repeated, pulling out her swords.
The man raised his hands. "I have done the impossible. I have touched the face of the Maker and lived. Do you know what the strongest force in the universe is?" He turned back towards the seated figure. "It's love. I pieced her together from memory. I found her eyes, her skin, her delicate fingers…" He touched the figure. "And at last, her face… oh, this beautiful face." He helped the figure to its feet. "I've searched far and wide to find you again, beloved, and no force on this earth will part us."
After rising, the figure faced them. It moved towards them, it's motions jerky. Above a red line on the neck that Varric didn't want to think about… was Leandra's face. There was no one in the room, save for the man, who was not about to vomit at the sight.
"Mother." Marian whispered, shocked.
Demons started to come to the robed man's summons. Anders lifted his staff, and the world around them seemed to explode in flames. Varric and the others focused on the rising corpses and shades coming in behind them. Merrill kept firing spells at anything that got in Marian's way as Wanda blasted the man back before Marian disarmed him of his staff and stabbed him in the heart repeatedly with her sword, roaring in rage, blood spattering her face.
"Marian!" Wanda exclaimed as Marian breathed out, staring, processing what she had done before she noticed Leandra moving jerkily towards her, but then began to topple over.
"Mother!" Marian cried out, catching her. Marian rested her head on her knees and looked into a pale face with tears running down her cheek.
Wanda turned to Anders. "Anders, can you…"
"There's nothing I can do. His magic was keeping her alive." Anders shook his head as the air turned cold and solemn.
"I knew you would come." Leandra said weakly, her face losing color.
"You know me." Marian smiled, doing her best to keep a brave face. She knew that her mother had little time left but she would not show weakness. Not in Leandra's last moments. "I always save the day."
"Shh. Don't fret, darling." Leandra said in a wispy voice. "That man would have kept me trapped in here… But now… I'm free." She then traced one of her hands against Marian's cheek in a loving fashion. "I get to see your father again. But you'll be here alone."
"She won't be alone." Wanda knelt towards Leandra and Marian, holding Leandra's hand. "I gave you a promise that I would look after your children. I intend to keep it, Leandra."
Leandra smiled, giving Wanda a look full of pride.
Marian held Leandra's hand, her voice breaking and on verge of tears. "I should have watched over you more closely, I should have…"
"My little girl has become so strong." Leandra murmured. "I love you. You've always made me so proud." She turned to Wanda. "Look after her, Wanda. Look after my children…"
Wanda nodded, not being able to hold back her tears anymore. "I will. I promise, Leandra."
Leandra gave them a smile of pride one last time before she went limp, tilting her head as her hand fell to the ground as she took a final breath. Marian could not hold it back anymore as she sobbed and broke down in tears. Wanda held her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, although she herself was not any better, seeing the kind elderly woman, who had given her home in a world she was unfamiliar with, die in such cruel way.
Varric watched as the strongest women he knew broke as he, Aveline and the rest neared them, putting their hands on their shoulders, trying to provide whatever little comfort they could.
A little while later, they looked over the letters and found out that Gascard had been in contact with the deranged man, whose name was Quentin as Marian glared.
"I should've sent that bastard to the templars." Marian growled. He was most likely long gone though.
Marian just sat in his chair looking at the fire still contemplating on what happened.
"Did you find her?" Gamlen asked as he came down the stairs.
"I'm sorry, Uncle. She's gone."
"You were right about the flowers and everything. I…" Gamlen punched the wall. "I can't believe she's gone."
"I was too late."
"So you're to blame." Gamlen gestured wildly. "If you'd been quicker or stronger, you could've…" He lowered his hands. "She could be…" A sob escaped him. "Why her? Why Leandra?"
"Mother's gone. Will knowing why ease the pain?" Marian said as she got up. She wished she had not known why did her mother died. And she knew that while Leandra and Gamlen had their differences, they still loved each other, just like Marian, Bethany and Carver. The sibling love would not be so easily broken.
"No. It won't." Gamlen said, folding his arms. "It will always seem senseless, won't it?" He hit the back of his head against a bookcase. "Where's the one who did this to her? Did you find the person who killed Leandra?"
"He's dead." Marian said.
Gamlen nodded. "It won't bring Leandra back, but I'll take comfort in knowing that." He sighed heavily. "Carver and Bethany need to be told."
"Wanda had already gone to the Gallows to visit her." Marian said.
"I'll send a message to the Grey Wardens and hope it reaches your brother." Gamlen said. "Take care, my girl."
Wanda entered the Gallows to approach Knight-Captain Cullen.
"Miss Maximoff. Is there anything I can do for you?" Cullen asked.
"I'm here to see Bethany. There's something I need to tell her." Wanda said.
Cullen frowned. "A letter would suffice. I can relay the message, if…"
"No, I…" Wanda sighed. "This is something I need to tell her in person."
"Knight-Captain Cullen." A templar approached him. "Marian Hawke and her compatriots hunted down the serial killer that had been eluding us for years. And…" He handed Cullen the report as he read it and his face turned solemn.
"Oh. I see." Cullen gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm truly sorry. I wish we had found that bastard sooner. I shall accompany you to Bethany's quarters right away."
Bethany was in her room at the table, reading some books.
"Miss Bethany. You have a visitor." Cullen said.
Bethany got up and turned around, smiling. "Wanda!" She hugged her tightly but pulled away, when Wanda did not return the hug after a moment, looking confused. "Is… is everything alright?"
"Bethany… you may want to sit down." Wanda took a breath and not a moment later, Wanda and Bethany ended up in arms of the other one, breaking down in tears.
Wanda wiped her tears as Bethany was in her room, curled to the ball, sobbing as she leaned onto the railing, staring at the courtyard of the Gallows.
"That wasn't your fault."
Wanda turned her head to see Vision and Pietro on each side. She knew they were not there really… but…
"I never said it was." Wanda said.
"Sometimes you can't save everyone." Pietro said as Steve then appeared behind her.
"But you need to do your best." Steve said.
"Why am I even here?" Wanda asked. This was a world she did not belong into, nor did anyone of her friends, and she found none of them here. What was the point of all this?
"You have a good heart. And you can't stop from helping others, when you can." Steve said.
"But I failed Leandra. I failed you." Wanda turned to Pietro.
"All you can do is keep fighting. And do better. Dwelling on the past is not going to help." Vision said.
"I wish it was that easy." Wanda said.
"It never is." Steve said as they vanished.
Marian went to her room and sat on the bed, still processing. That her mother was dead. She failed her family, Bethany, Carver and now their mother. She promised their father that she would protect them and what a good job she had done so far.
"You… know where to find me, if you want to talk about it. I understand if you don't."
Marian turned her head to see Aveline. Aveline stood there, awaiting for answer but Marian just stared, silent.
After a moment, Aveline sat to her… and again, in need of comfort and not able to hold it back anymore, the floodgates opened as Marian sobbed and Aveline put a hand onto her shoulder, hugging her as Marian cried before laying down on Aveline's lap.
"Just let it out, Marian. Just let it out." Aveline said, remembering that Marian had been there for her after she had lost her husband.
Present
"So, the Champion's mother was killed by a madman, who couldn't accept that his wife had gone to the Maker." Cassandra said.
"I feel sorry for the man." Leliana said. "Imagine how she he, she lost a sister to the Circle, her brother to the taint and lost her mother to a madman. She swore to protect them and no matter what she did, she failed. Plus, Wanda had lost all hope of finding her way home and by the time she did return to wherever she came from, she had lost more than enough."
"Maybe it was this loss that drove them to do what they did." Cassandra said.
"Cassandra?"
"Yes?"
Leliana shook her head. "The other parts to the story. Anders running the clinic, distributing food. The Champion risking her life for someone she barely knew and the Avengers meddling into affairs that did not concern them…" She sighed. "We may have been more wrong than we thought. These were good people."
"We know what happened, Leliana. Cullen was there."
"I know. I just… were they acting, or reacting? Clearly, Hawke and the Avengers were only trying to keep peace but failed." Leliana sighed. "When we got here, I wanted to know what. Now, I think, I want to know why."
Cassandra sighed, and then nodded. "As do I."
So, what do you guys think about it?
Please review and let me know if you are enjoying this so far and want for me to continue.