"Why is it whenever there's a brawl in the hanged man Fen has to be involved?" Tiredly, Aveline sighs at the group before her, each one having their hands chained as they stand in the captain's office patiently watching Aveline pace back and forth exhausted.

"It's a Fen thing." Simply, Dorian shrugs.

"Sadly it is. So…you want to go after her." Tiredly, Aveline gathers turning to me as I shyly nod, confirming it.

"Yeah…we need to make sure she's okay." I explain to Aveline, holding in my internal screaming to meet one of Hawke's friends and one of the heroes of Kirkwall that helped fight against the Qunari and rose in the ranks of the guard, a position that is not to be taken lightly, a real inspiration for both women and warriors.

"You saw her she's fine." Curtly, Aveline answers frowning at us as I sigh.

"She was fighting in a bar!" I point out arguing against her my brow furrowed at her deadpan expression.

"You have met Fen right?" Sceptical, her eyes narrow as she leans against her desk, raising a brow at me making me groan.

"She does have a point." Blackwall gives in as I turn to see Sera and Dorian nodding, the trio not surprised to find Fen in a bar fight.

"How are you okay with this?" Baffled, I turn to the trio lost to their honesty.

"Fen likes to fight you should see when she had that arm wrestle with Bull." Dorian recalls smirking at the memory.

"Still think she cheated." Grumbling, Sera huffs bitterly at the memory.

"Does using your lyrium markings really count as cheating?" Torn, Blackwall questions.

"I lost five gold to that..." Grumpily, Sera huffs pouting at the memory crossing her arms.

"And I earn five gold that night." Smugly, Dorian leans back smirking at the memory.

"Still found it odd that you betted against Bull." Blackwall confesses.

"Sisters before misters you could say Blackwall." Cheekily, Dorian smirks checking over his nails smoothly.

"She called them abominations!" Frustrated, I point out irritation in my tone only to gawk at both Merill and Aveline's simple shrugs.

"You have met Fen right?" Frowning, Aveline repeats her point not shocked, not stunned, not even surprised, almost bored of having to repeat her point in the same deadpanned tone.

"That's not my point." Tiredly, I groan cradling my temple, feeling a familiar thumping pain in my head ache at this never ending cycle of a conversation.

"Look I understand your concern I do but you don't need to do this. Go back to the inquisition you have important decisions to make, Kirkwall isn't that important, allow Fen and I to handle the situation." Calmly, Aveline tells us making me frown, we can't leave not without Fen I just…I know I sound selfish but…

"But you asked for the Inquisitor's aid." I point out scowling.

"I asked for Fen's aid because I knew she could handle it. She has dealt with rebellions before." Sternly, Aveline corrects me making me scowl.

"But for how long?" Gently, Solas questions making our eyes widen as we turn to the silent stoic Solas having been quiet for so long now breaking his silence.

"…So you know." Gravely, Aveline sighs pushing herself off the desk to face him.

"Her markings are killing her yes and each time she uses them she's that closer to death." Snippily, Solas remark anger and irritation laced in his curt tone surprising us making Merill and myself flinch back.

"So…you must be Solas." Scowling, Aveline sneers, disgust laced in her tone as she glowers at him.

"And if I am?" Smoothly, Solas challenges unfazed by Aveline's killer glare stunning all of us Merill included to find him so clam, so composed, so cool despite her furious fiery glare.

"Haven't you done enough meddling?" Angrily, she snarls at him, hands bawling up shaking, thirsting to punch him no doubt.

"Aveline…" Gently, Merill whispers reaching out placing her hand on Aveline's shoulder calming her down.

"You know who he was and still brought him." Seething, Aveline bows her head turning her sharp glare to me as I furrow my brow.

"He cares for her." I argue.

"Well not enough, be careful elf I will not hesitate to punch you if I find you try anything to Fennic. You've done enough to her." Lowly, Aveline threatens Solas remaining silent.

"I understand you care a great deal for Fennic I give you my word I will do no harm to her." Calmly, he promises her.

"Damn right you won't. now leave, go back to where you came from and leave this up to us." Firmly, she commands him.

"I refuse to leave without Fen." Resolute, I dictate.

"You have other soldiers and Fen is not an object if you were truly her friend…" Offended, Aveline begins.

"Fen isn't a soldier she's my friend!" Fed up, I cut her off surprising the others.

"Is that right?" Aveline arches a brow challenging me.

"Yes." Confidently, I answer gazing into Aveline's terrifying greens.

"Then why has she not mentioned you to us?" Warily, Aveline questions.

"What do you mean?" Confused, Dorian raises a brow.

"Varric has been the one filling us in, she has said nothing to us about you and Fennic tells us everything we're family." Aveline informs us making our eyes widen, she's said nothing, not even…I mean she must have said something we're friends and they know about Solas but then again, Fennic does tend to keep things secret whether intentionally or not. I just wish she was more open more…I'm scared as it is that thanks to Solas breaking up with her, her view on mages were tainted. I mean she called them abominations! Abominations!

"Aveline…." Sighing, Merill begins.

"Leave." Scowling, Aveline orders.

"No, I won't! We want to help please we care about Fen as much as you do. She's practically family to me, like an older sibling or…really cool but drunk aunt." I begin confidently only to sputter and begin sputtering out words jumbling them up, failing, feeling my tongue beginning to type in on itself as I stumble about.

"…Maker…Fen is going to kill me. Fine you may come but you will follow my instructs carefully do I make myself clear?" Exasperated, Aveline gives in much to our relief.

"Yes mam…" Smiling, we agree as we all listen to Aveline's plan…

"So, this is the patrol route…" Gently, I whisper when finding myself at the docks, looking up at the ethereal moon beaming down upon us. I look out at the glistening waves of the moon. You know, Kirkwall is known to be a rough place, a place full of scammers, killers and thieves but here, right now, it's beautiful. Amazed, I look out at the horizon, my nose twitching at the sweet salty sea air, to think the champion of Kirkwall. Fen and her friends used to travel these routes as friends, as families, I envy them to have that sort of companionship I mean…to think I would be walking the same routes as them, the same grainy ground, to think I would even befriend them, meet them…it's…it's so weird.

"That's right and if I'm right, this is where my men have been disappearing near here and according to Fen so have Sebastian's troops…" Aveline reports to us.

"So how do you know this?" Curious, I question Aveline noting her wary hues scanning the area.

"Fennic made a deal with Sebastian, the alienage would be the safe space for both sides once he expressed his worry over his soldiers going missing too. On the same route as my soldiers." Calmly, Aveline reports to us surprising us.

"So, you think something is going on around here?" Dorian proposes.

"Definitely." Aveline confirms.

"Then how are we to…?" I begin not sure what to say, glancing to the side, it was a shame Merill had to leave but the alienage needed her, the city elf's need a leader and she had to step up.

"We're under attack!" Loudly, Aveline calls out cutting us off as she draws her blade and shield, we follow after her taking on the men and easily defeating them but…

"These men…" Gently, Aveline whispers confusing us as she kneels down.

"What about them?" Intrigued, I quirk my head to the side joining her side.

"These aren't my men." Frowning, Aveline mutters as we examine the men, looting them.

"Sebastian's…?" Blackwall offers

"Perhaps something is off…" Aveline's eyes narrow unsure.

"If you mean their movements yes they seemed in pain." Sera points out.

"Wait these marks they look…old." Dorian remarks his brow furrowed.

"Self-inflicted." Softly, Solas whispers pained at the sight.

"Self-inflicted? Who are these men? They aren't mine." Easily, Aveline rejects the idea.

"I don't know about that I mean look at these guys…" I offer pointing towards one taking off the helmet to discover…

"Wait…yes, that's…Hopkins what? He went missing weeks ago…he looks…" Horrified, Aveline whispers, her eyes wide in disgust towards his bloodied deformed form.

"Possessed demonic…" Sera lists glaring pointedly at Dorian.

"Don't tell me…" I whisper shaking my head.

"Blood magic. I know it anywhere." Grimly, Aveline whispers bowing her head slowly shutting the eyes of the fallen warrior.

"Hey you guys okay?" Surprised, we both perk up at the loud clatter of metal and turn to the sewer manhole cover, our eyes widening when some robed guys appear from the top as we turn to them. What have we stumbled across now?

Silently, Fennic watches on grimacing as she sneaks through the shadowy depths of the sanctuary, her brow furrowed at the familiar landscape, remembering it from the time she and Hawke dealt with the blood mages that kidnapped one of the templars. Scowling, she stares at the limp bloodied forms of the possessed elves, children, adults and in between many lying limp on the ground, her nose grimacing at the familiar stench of copper. Hungrily, the maggots and flies feast upon the failures as she slowly stares at the numerous diagrams pinned to the wall, rushed writing of experiment labels, results and such, noting the numerous hypothesis only making her stomach curl at the sight.

Quietly, she approaches one of the staff wielders, swiftly grabbing them by the throat, gurgling their surprised scream only to be swiftly silenced by the blade slitting their throat, crimson oozing out from the limp body. She continues her silent stealth kills until approaching the bodies.

Sadly, her bleus soften as she anxiously feelings her fingertips brush against her marks aching from the sheer sight of the deep cuts, noting the infected rusted blades scattered to the side having broken from overuse, no doubt Fennic notes to herself. Grimacing, she bows her head at the sudden flash of a familiar rusted blade towering over her, she screams in agony as the rusted blade hits her bones, carving them out, modelling her bones to her master's design almost…

Scowling, her brow furrows as she reads off the reports presented, her eyes widening at the secret scheme of theirs only then to stop, her brow furrowed at the sound of footsteps. She sighs, disappointed, tired, bored almost as she turns on her heels to be greeted by…

"Hello there Fennic or would you prefer the supposed mage saviour?" Disgusted, he sneers slamming his staff down on the floor, making her eyes widen as next thing she knows, she finds men armoured in both Kirkwall guard uniform and chantry attire, resembling that of Starkhaven from the crest to the shiny armour, Sebastian so proudly wore surrounding her, making her brow furrowed, irritation etched into her features as she clicks her tongue, almost amused by it all.

"And you must be the next blood psycho…" Dryly, Fennic greets him staring at the possessed individual both elven and human, all the same to her either way, all victims of blood magic. Fennic sharply glares at the blood mage, the high enchanter she would have to guess from the posh looking robes, only making her eyes narrow turning sharper. Shakily, her silver gauntlets gleaming with crimson gently grasp hold of her arm shaking quivering as she feels the bumps of lyrium etched, marred into her skin making her bow her head, grimacing at the flashes of memories of the high pitch screams of agony, of pity, of help until numbing, her blues softening when seeing nothing more than the once screaming shouting crying girl falls limp from the chains, holding her above as she fades into the numbness of pain, her coal black locks turning a familiar stalk white.

"Where are you taking us?" Curious, Aveline demands, her voice echoing through the damp sewer system as I grimace, sharing Dorian's thoughts. I hear the faint slush of the dirty water below us, grimacing as the water dampens our feet.

"Darktown…" The male answers as my brow furrows at the odd emotionless response from the male.

"Be on your guard." Sternly, Aveline advises us as we nod following her advice, my muscles tense and my fingertips tightening around my staff.

"So what is this place?" Curious, Sera questions fascinated.

"A safe haven for those stuck in the crossfire of this fight. After the Qunari threat was settled, we couldn't just return, we knew the mages and Templar conflict would soon combust… it was fortunate we had this secret tunnel to hide and lay low." The male informs us.

"So, you've been here all that time." Amazed, Blackwall whispers.

"Indeed, we managed to recruit some form the imperial march, they have settled well here." The warrior informs us.

"But for what price?" Aveline prompts confusing us.

"The price is nothing." Simply, he answers making me furrow my brow.

"Is that right?" Scowling, Aveline exclaims as our eyes widen at the fort like place, noting numerous sickbay beds for those resting, my nose grimacing at the heavy stench of cooper as many trade, talk, going about their days unfazed by the fighting above.

"Commander Aveline?" Surprised, Aveline blinks at the namedrop as she turns to rush over to the man on one of the sickbeds, her eyes wide to find crimson seeping out of his littered form, her features grimacing at the messy infected stitches all over his form.

"Jenkins what are you…? What have you done?" Horrified, Aveline whispers her voice breaking.

"Apologies for being away for so long but once the experiment is over. I will return to your side to fight back against those chantry fools and show them Kirkwall is our home, I'll come back better…" Proudly, he promises Aveline coughing out crimson only making Aveline grimace at his poor condition, unsavable despite the deluded mind.

"Better?" Lost, Aveline whispers confused.

"Yes for the small act of my blood, I have become better, stronger, more useful for the cause…" Proudly, he declares.

"Jenkins what have you done!?" Horrified, Aveline hisses at the fool.

"I've done nothing but served. Though it would seem others had the same idea…" Weakly, he turns his head to the side, making Aveline's eyes wide at the almost empty husks of red infused humans.

"Sebastian's…" Aveline whispers recognising them.

"Yeah fortunately they didn't survive the experiments…" Smiling, he praises as I grimace disgust towards him, how can he say that!? I just…

"The experiments!?" Sera gawks horrified.

"Don't waste your breath." Sighing, Dorian tells Aveline making her frown.

"What do you mean he's one of my men." Annoyed, Aveline argues.

"He's gone. His brain has been tampered with," Sighing, Solas adds.

"Are you saying?" Aveline whispers pained.

"His memories will begin to deteriorate or worse, he'll go insane…" Dorian finishes.

"Is this…why would anyone want to use blood magic!?" Frustrated, Aveline seethes.

"Any magic could have done this," Fairly, Solas exclaims making me frown only then for our eyes to widen at the pained scream, alerting both our group and the ones who brought us here.

"Huh what's going on!?" Confused, I voice out.

"Ignore it. It's nothing we have much to talk about…" Smoothly, our supposed saviour tells us.

"What do you mean?" Harshly, I demand from them.

"Well to fit in we need to do some…" Shyly, the male shows his bloodied blade.

"You will not have our blood!" Angrily, Aveline snarls drawing her blade.

"Is that so? Perhaps we should take this to a test? Smugly, the mage declares as the battle begins one we have to take care off…" Angrily, Aveline yells as she uses her shield bash reminding me of Cassandra as she tosses the lifeless corpses into the doors, forcing them, prying them open only for my eyes to widen as we are greeted by the heavy stench of iron.

"Now then shall we talk or are you going to monologue and ramble about shit I do not care for?" Surprised, we perk up at Fen's voice our eyes widening as we stare at the men surrounding Fen.

"Fen?" Concerned, I whisper my eyes widening when much to my horror I find Fen on her knees, chains of raw red dangle before her, our eyes widening at the raw red lyrium, none of us having only fearing the effect the chains could have on Fen as she remains silent, simple staring, refusing to be fazed by the tool, unaware of her face grimacing by the rusted blade, teasingly touching her neck.

"These people are under my protection." Proudly, the head of the mages turns to face us.

"Your protection you mean your experimentation! I've seen your notes, hoping to use their blood to go against both of them!" Angrily, Fennic sneers glaring icily at him.

"Captain Aveline is useless, she may say she is for mages, but she still believes in the circle, in the traditional mindset that sets them back. I am superior as apprentice to Orsino I will make him proud! With my army I shall take over and proclaim Kirkwall as ruled by a mage, this will inspire other circles to rise up and fight against their captures…" Animatedly, The head mage reveals.

"Yeah…not going to happen." Frowning, Fen remarks as my eyes widen when next thing I know, I see a familiar slick steel gaunt impaled into the head's chest, crimson rivers spurting out from the wound alongside his gaping mouth. He collapses on his knees, dead just as Fen turns to the two who had held her, only for their throats to meet the fine silver steel blades to their cut, red gushing down their choking throats as they fall to their knees, the other mages quickly falling prey to Fen's strikes, none of us intervening too stunned. We slowly make our way down to the stoic Fen, her hands smeared in crimson.

"Shh…struggling only makes things worse." Lowly, Fen whispers sneering in sadistic glee as she kneels down, taunting the man on the verge of death…

"You know anyone called Celeste in here?" Coldly, Fen demands.

"N-No!" Sputtering, he whimpers.

"Like I thought…Thanks…" Coldly, Fen stands as his eyes roll over, accepting death's sweet embrace.

"You…You killed them all." Horrified, I whisper shakily stepping forward.

"They deserved it." Tiredly, almost exhausted she snaps irritated as her fingertips scratch the outline bumps of her markings.

"Deserved it? They were people…" Frowning, I argue. Silently, Fen stands turning to face me scowling.

"They were abominations." Sternly, she states surprising me.

"So me?" Weakly, I whisper as she rolls her eyes exasperated.

"Do you study blood magic?" Frustrated, she demands from me making me frown at her curt tone.

"Well no." Dumbly, I deny.

"Have you been in doctoring folks stuck in the crossfire of this war to be experiments for their blood magic?" Rudely, she questions me making me bow my head.

"Wha…what?" Flustered, I whisper not sure how to respond to that.

"Catch up Inquisitor…" Angrily, Fen snaps at me making me squeak back fearful of her sharp glare as she turns her back to me and the others.

"Fen wait I didn't…" Pleadingly, I beg reaching out to her.

"Just…leave me alone. That's all I asked I even told you about this so why on earth couldn't you just leave me alone? That was all I asked for you to let me deal with this on my own." Irritated, Fen scowls at me, lecturing me like I'm some…some child!

"You told me only after I caught you!" Annoyed, I point out.

"Enough!" Sternly, Fen orders me but I shake my head refusing to do so.

"How could you you're a hero to so many!? They look up to you!" Furious, I remind her making her flinch.

"I didn't ask to be a hero Eve and I'm no hero. Heroes are good people, they are full of valour, unbiased are the perfect person Eve I'm far from a perfect person…!" Scowling, Fen tells me.

"But…" Weakly, I whisper meekly trying to get her to see.

"I just…leave me alone." Tiredly, Fen requests, cradling her temple.

"Fennic just listen…" Calmly, Solas steps forward making most of us gawk at the audacity of the elf as sharply, Fen turns to snarl at him, glaring daggers of utter malice towards the taller male.

"You shouldn't be here and you know that." Snarling, Fennic glowers at him, her voice curt, abrupt, short seething to the brim with poison.

"I was concerned for you, I had thought…" Gently, Solas begins unfazed by the burning flames behind Fennic's cool blue hues.

"We're over Solas. You made that pretty clear so why the hell do you care?" Harshly, Fennic demands from him, her marks glowing a bright blue, flaring up.

"Just because we ended our relationship doesn't mean I don't care about you." Sighing, Solas tells her only making Fennic seethe, angrily cursing at him in I assume tevine from Dorian's blush.

"Yes it does. That is what breaking up is losing interesting in someone, the other having done something wrong, there being a fault with the other in the relationship." Fuming, Fennic explains to him, her voice filled with venom.

"Or the person themselves having a fault…" Shakily, Solas whispers his voice breaking as he watches the fleeting figure of Fen storm off, raising hell, spewing fire, hitting anything in her path as she leaves us while I glance at the devastated Solas, pain etched into his features…