Chapter 61: All That Remains pt1

The Hanged Man

Varric and Isabela were at the bar watching Ericks and Daisy being all lovey-dovey. The Hanged Man wasn't the best place for a romantic outing but it was only place where they wouldn't get any stares. Romance between humans and elves was not unheard in Thedas, but they tended to be frowned upon due to the bad blood between the two races. Because of this, such romances tended to be very short lived. "So…Hawke and Daisy?" Varric asked.

"I think they're darling together" Isabela said. "About bloody time too, I don't know how much sexual tension I could take from those two"

"It's almost too adorable. Well, except for the evil blood magic thing"

"Please, the most evil thing Merrill does most days is pick the flowers out of other people's gardens"

Varric groaned. "I know…I have to bribe most of the gardeners in Hightown to keep it quiet" he said. "Let's just hope it goes well, I've seen their kind of whirlwind love story before and it always end in tragedy"

Isabela nodded in agreement. "Which is why I'm worried about Kitten, this is the first time she's been in love" she said. "Hawke does anything to break her heart; I'll cut off his balls"

"Well then…here's to a long lasting relationship" Varric said holding a glass. "Cheers!"


My dear friend,

I have obtained the books you requested. I'll leave them at our usual hiding spot. Please collect them as soon as possible. I would hate to see them in the wrong hands!

Your last letter was fascinating! You have proven me wrong, once again, by doing the impossible. I shouldn't have doubted your resolve, and I hope you will keep me apprised of further progress.

Your friend and colleague,

O

The Hawke Estate

After their dinner, Ericks and Merrill headed back to the estate hand in hand which caused quite the scene in Hightown. The news of Merrill stay at the estate was met with shock at first, but the Dalish was soon welcome with open arms. Merrill had gotten along swimmingly with Bodhan and Sandal, Orana was enchanted by Merrill's Dalish tales. But the biggest surprise was his mother, since getting the family estate back she had been trying to marry off Ericks to the many noble daughters in Hightown. It was quite the challenge due to how adventurous Ericks was; the rogue thought she would object to Merrill being here but she was okay with it. In fact, Leandra have in a very good mood lately. Merrill didn't have much to her name when moving in except for the Eluvian. She decided to leave the mirror behind as not to arouse suspicion from the Templars.

"Sorry that our first picnic was at the Hanged Man" Ericks said. "I thought somewhere familiar would be good" Merrill kissed the rogue on the cheek and smiled.

"That's all right, as long as I get to be with you, I don't care where I am"

"I promise you, I take you somewhere better next time" When they opened the door, they could hear talking.

"Enchantment?"

"No, not enchantment. Leandra, can I see her?" They enter the main hall and spotted Gamlen speaking with Sandal. Since making it to Hightown, Gamlen remained in his hovel in Lowtown. He and Leandra have standing weekly visits which started to help heal their broken relationship. Time after time Leandra had offered her brother a chance to stay at the estate and each and every time he would refuse out of pride.

"Enchantment!"

"No, Leandra! Lee. Ann. Drah!" Gamlen said in frustration. "Gah, can't you hire better help, boy?!"

"Shouting won't make him understand you better, you know"

"Nevermind that, where's your mother? Is she feeling all right?"

"All right? Ma's been giddier than a farm girl for weeks now" Ericks said. "Why are you so upset? Lost another bet?"

"Your mother didn't show up for our weekly visit. Is she ill? She is here, isn't she?" Bodahn walked in after sorting all the letters.

"No, Gamlen. We haven't seen her all day"

"Where could she be?"

"With her suitor, perhaps?" Ericks and Gamlen looked at the dwarf. Leandra never mentioned a suitor but then again that would explain why she's been so happy lately. "Well, those lilies arrived for her this morning"

Ericks frowned. "What lilies?" Bodahn walked over the flower pot that had white lilies in it.


Then-DuPuis Estate

"You're not…you're not him!" DuPuis said. "Shit…I…know what this looks like, but I didn't hurt her!"

"Yeah, the crying and the fear in the eyes really sell the not hurting part" Ericks said sarcastically.

DuPuis' eyes went wide. "No, I didn't mean…" he said. "Look…I don't know why you're here, but there's a killer out there, and I think he's playing us both" Ericks crossed his arms as his brow rose. "Just…just let me explain!"

"This I have to hear"

"Twenty silver if he says, 'It wasn't me! It was the one-armed man!'" Varric said dryly. DuPuis explained that several years ago his sister was murdered in a brutal way in Orlais. The chevaliers never caught the murderer and DuPuis mourned for years until recently. He had heard of several murders of women in Kirkwall, the women were all killed the same way. It starts with a bouquet of white lilies; the murderer sends them to each new victim. According to DuPuis, the woman with them, Alessa was going to be next.

"I took her so he'd have to come to me. I was finally going to face my sister's killer, but then you showed up…"

"He's lying! He hurt me!"

DuPuis kneeled down to face Alessa. "I've explained this! I need your blood to track you down if he took you. It was for your protection!" Ericks looked on the hand of Alessa; there was a large cut across the palm of her hand…enough to fill a single vial. If this man really was the murderer, he wouldn't care about the gang seeing him kill one of his victims…unless DuPuis was a very good actor and from the looks of his awkwardness, he wasn't. Alessa moved away from him and ran away.

"Let go of me!"

"She'll go straight to the city guard. They'll ruin everything"

"So say I believe you, who killed your sister?" Ericks asked.

"A powerful and experienced blood mage. I believe he uses the women for some ritual" DuPuis said. "His victims are attractive, healthy women with few social ties"


Now

Ericks' eyes went wide. "No, no, no, no, no…" The rogue quickly ran out of the estate before Gamlen could utter another word.

"Ma vhenan…" Merrill said sadly.

"Wha…what has gotten in to him?"

"We recognize those white lilies, a killer in Kirkwall sends them to his victims before he takes them" the elf said. "He's murdered several women already"

Gamlen was taken aback. "This…this is a jest, right? No, you're wrong. Leandra's fine"

"Bodahn, get Aveline and tell her everything said here" Merrill said. "I need to catch up to Ericks" Gamlen headed back to Lowtown to find Leandra while Bodhan and Sandal held down the fort in case she found her way home. Merrill ran out of the estate, Ericks was nowhere to be found. This was a dangerous situation, Ericks was not in his right mind and he was up against a dangerous blood mage. She needs someone who had eyes and ears in the city, the elf needed Varric. She headed to the Hanged man to speak with the dwarf. Once Merrill explained everything, Varric had his people scour the city for Ericks' mother. The elf and the dwarf took off to find Ericks.

"Shit, that killer again…I thought the Templars or the guards would have found him by now"

"I'm worried about Ericks, Varric…he may do something reckless" Merrill said.

"Don't worry, Daisy…we'll find him" Up ahead, they spotted Aveline who was ordering her guards to scour the city for Leandra. "Aveline"

"I got Bodhan's message, Merrill" she said. "Have you found Ericks, yet?" Merrill shook her head. "Wait…there was another person that was after this killer, wasn't there?"

"Gascard DuPuis, you mean" Merrill said. "But where would we find him? His estate has been empty for months"

"Darktown…Templars rarely go down there and that's where most shady shit goes down" Varric said. "Knowing Hawke, he's come to the same conclusion as well" The gang headed to Darktown.

Darktown

Ericks was in Darktown looking for DuPuis. He asked around until someone mentioned a young man in fine noble clothing, something out of place in Darktown. DuPuis was near the sewers, he looked a little less noble with his faded clothes and shaggy beard. He had been searching nonstop ever since that day. "Gascard!" The mage turned around.

"Hawke? What are you doing here? Do you have something?"

"My ma's gone. She received white lilies this morning"

"So soon? I wasn't expecting this" he said. "Remember Alessa, the woman you rescued? Just as I predicted her took her not long after you found us"

"I have enough of her blood for one ritual. I can use it to track them"

"Ericks!" The rogue looked back and saw Aveline, Merrill and Varric approaching. "Are you really going to rely on blood magic to find Leandra? My men are searching for her up and down Kirkwall"

"With all due respect, Guard Captain, by the time your men finds her it will be too late" DuPuis said. "My magic can lead us straight to her, right now"

"You could have tracked the killer this whole time? Why haven't you done it?" Varric asked.

"When you destroyed my demons, I lost the power to confront him" he said. "But with your help, there's nowhere he can slither to and he'll be no match for us"

"Use the blood. I need to find my Ma"

"Stand back. If there is anything left of Alessa in this world, this ritual will find it" The gang stepped back as DuPuis set a vial of Alessa's blood on the ground. He took out a knife and slit the palm of his hand, his veins glowed red as he and the vial floated. Dupuis' eyes grew clouded as he saw what Alessa saw, a dark room that smelled of blood and death. There was also another smell…a faint smell of fresh fish and the sea. Beside her was another woman, older than she was but beautiful for her age. There was a figure lurking over them, she couldn't make out his feature but the malevolence was unmistakable. Then darkness came. After the ritual DuPuis fell to his knees, weak from the ritual. Ericks helped him up. "I have the location; we must hurry to the docks before it's too late"


Entry 1

Used quicklime to preserve her feet. Unsure whether texture of the skin is to my liking. Will try other methods.

Entry 2

Mharen... it's a pretty name. I saw her hands. Long, slender fingers. Fair skin—the hands of a lifelong scholar. Oh, to lock my own clumsy fingers in hers again...

Entry 3

Today is our anniversary. Had hoped to complete my work before now, but one piece is missing. I'm so sorry, love. Please wait a little longer. I haven't forgotten my promise.

When I see it, I'll know. I would know that face anywhere.

Entry 4

It's close, now. My long wait is almost over.

Am I doing the right thing? It all seemed so clear to me, but now... what have I become? When did this happen? Someone will eventually try to stop me. I've left too many clues for them not to. When they come, should I try to stop them? Maybe the Maker took her from me because I deserved to lose her.

No. It's too late for me to stop, now. The Maker will need to stop me if he thinks I need to be stopped.

No one else.-Thoughts of a Broken Man

Dark Foundry

The gang entered the foundry on guard for any demon that might attack them. "This place…we've been here before, haven't we?" Varric asked.

"This is where we found the human remains all those years ago. We should've known there was something else here" Aveline said.

"Ma must be here somewhere, we need to look around" The gang started their search.

With emotions running high, will Ericks be able to keep it together to save his mother? Next Time! As always Review and Comment!