After the Qunari left, Hawke became quite busy with being the Champion, getting more jobs around the city, and he distanced himself off from his friends more. Isabela had also closed herself off, and Varric was getting lonely without the regulars coming by to play cards and listen to his stories. Claire decided she would wait for Hawke to come to them, so she kept herself busy getting the Tirashan castle ready to move mages over. She didn't want to leave Anders very long, so progress was slow, but a few of the mages from the Planasene castle volunteered to stay at the Tirashan one to work on it while she was gone.

She made sure to set up many protections, paranoid that the elves would come looking for sacrifices, but even after a few weeks, there were no reports of any elves being seen, which gave her comfort. With Anders, he was getting worse, and she knew he didn't want to worry her, but she could tell. She would stay around him as much as possible without making it obvious she was just worried about him anyway. What a pair they were, both not wanting to worry the other and failing constantly.

Around four weeks after the Qunari fight, Claire sought out Fenris, who was brooding in his abandoned mansion he'd staked out all those years ago. She knocked on the door, but he didn't answer, so she walked in and wandered around the desolate building until she found him in the main bedroom, drinking wine. He didn't look pleased to see her, but he didn't seem like he was going to try to hurt her at least.

"Hello, Fenris." She said. "I'm sorry to intrude, but I wanted to talk to you."

"What could someone like you have to talk to me about?" He had a growl to his voice, and she began questioning why she was there.

"Hawke." She said. "I don't know what's going on between you two, or if something happened, but I know he cares a great deal about you, and I've seen the way you look at him. I'm worried about him, Fenris, he's closing himself off to us, and he needs you. He cares more for you than he does me or Anders, or anyone else." Fenris stared at the bottle of wine he was holding for a moment, then looked at her oddly.

"I was under the impression he was close with you and your abomination."

"Don't doubt your position with him." Claire snapped. "You can hate me, you can hate Anders, all you want, I don't care. I'm not here to try to win you over. I know how badly you were hurt by mages, the same as I was hurt by both Templar and mage alike. I have no trust for anyone, but I do care about Hawke. Please, Fenris. For him, please. Go, talk to him, be around him more, for his sake. Try not to be afraid to trust him, to love him." Fenris' eyes widened.

"Love...?" He asked. He grew angry and stood up, then became more distraught. "What would you know about it? You can't possibly know what you're talking about!"

"I held back from telling Anders how I felt about him, for years, out of fear." She said. "The many what-ifs, the fear of opening myself up to someone else like that, the pain that physical touch would bring after eight years of torture at the magister's hands... I don't know what you're going through, but I suppose it feels a little familiar to me, and I hate seeing people I care about in pain. I'm sorry, I... I shouldn't have come." She teleported away as she realized she was getting too emotional, and went to an isolated mountain top to cry alone.

She should have just gone to Hawke, but she knew he wouldn't tell her the truth, just like how Anders was hiding his own pain from her. Why was everyone hiding everything? They were all in pain, and holding it in... She went back to the clinic, but Anders was too busy to talk then, so she began going around helping out to pass the time.

By the time everything was done, and the clinic was slow and quiet, Claire was exhausted and had forgotten what she wanted to talk to Anders about, until they fell into bed, and she saw the pain in his eyes reminding her.

"Anders..." She murmured, snuggling up to him. "You do know that no matter how much you try to hide it, I can tell you're in a lot of pain and trying to hide it? If you're trying not to make me worry, it's not working." He sighed and held her close.

"Can you blame me?" He asked. "How long have you hidden how you feel, just to keep me from worrying?"

"How do you think I can tell?" She laughed. "But seriously... I love you, and I don't want you to feel you have to hide anything. I've been doing a lot better at telling you, haven't I?"

"I'm sure you know what it's about." He said slowly. "You've seen what happens..."

"It's not inevitable!" She cried, then tried to calm herself a little. She wanted him to talk openly and she didn't want to scare him from doing it. "I'm sorry, Anders. I just... there must be something we can do."

"What if I don't want you to?" He asked, making her freeze. Had he really gotten so bad already? No, she couldn't lose him... she couldn't, she had to do something, she would find a way...

"Please, Anders..." She was crying and she couldn't stop it. She had three years... three years and they were already talking death. "We still have time, and we'll be together for that time. I won't leave you alone. Please don't leave me." She felt him tense up and hold her even tighter.

"Claire, no, I'm not leaving!" He said. He moved so he was looking her in the eyes, then kissed her lightly. "I'm just saying, when the time does come, what if things have gotten so bad that death would be preferable?"

"We... we'll... we'll figure it out w-when we get there." She was having a hard time keeping her emotions in check again. "Is it really so bad now? Or is it just the thought of the future that's plaguing you?"

"You saw what I almost did to that girl... what I almost did to you." He said. "But even so, I'm not ready for it to be over. I can't bear the thought of leaving you, and I can't abandon the mages here. I still have work to do." She kissed him and they laid there for a while with their lips barely touching, tears still falling down her cheeks.

"I'm here for you, Anders." She said. "Don't ever forget it. If you need a break, we can go somewhere, enjoy ourselves for a time. We can't work all the time, we need to take some breaks now and then, or we'll wear ourselves too thin."

"Perhaps we should go somewhere fun, then, just for a little bit." He said. "Have a picnic on the beach..."

"I would like that." She said, smiling. "There's still so much of this world I want to show you..."

"Then let us see it together."

Anders was starting to notice how long it had been since Hawke had visited, and wondered where his friend had gone. Had he even congratulated Hawke on becoming Champion? Though, as he thought about it, he wasn't sure that was something Hawke liked being. It was more responsibility, more saving the city, as Meredith practically appointed herself viscount until someone else could be found for it.

After his talk with Claire, he started thinking about what they could do for Hawke, and wondered if the rogue would be up to it.

"Love, I was just thinking..." He walked up to Claire as she put some potions away. "Do you think we could take Hawke somewhere? I'm getting the feeling he needs a vacation himself." She looked at him and smiled.

"That sounds like it would be nice." She said. "But where would we take him? Or would we let him decide?"

"We should probably let him decide." Hawke said, surprising them both. They both turned to stare at the Champion as he walked in.

"Did you hear, then?" Claire asked. "Is that something you'd like?"

"More than you could know!" Hawke sounded exasperated. "Things are finally starting to calm down a bit as the city is rebuilt, but Maker, I am exhausted. The less likely people are to find me, the better the location."

"I could take you to the Tirashan forest, then." Claire grinned. "No one would go there for you!"

"Dare I even ask where that is?" Hawke asked.

"It's a forest far to the west of us, west even to Orlais, and south to the Anderfels." Claire replied. "It is a dark and deep forest, where an ancient clan of elves live, elves who worship the Forgotten Ones, the dark gods of the ancient elves... the ones sent to the Void."

"That sounds absolutely pleasant, when can we leave?" He grinned, easing any tension that was left.

"With Claire, we can leave whenever we want." Anders said. "Though I would suggest stopping in Orlais for some food."

"Yes, that's true, I must make another delivery." Claire sighed. "The castle there isn't self sufficient yet, but it's getting there, so I've been delivering their food to them." Hawke's eyebrows rose.

"You've got another castle...?" He asked. "It must be costing you a fortune to feed everyone."

"I've found a few artifacts and relics that I've had Varric sell for me, but yes, almost all the money goes to the castle and building it up. I still have mages in the Planasene castle, but soon, I'll be moving them all over. The Tirashan is far safer for them, while the Planasene is still too close to the Templars for comfort. There have already been a few close calls, but thankfully the protections I put up have held, and the castle wasn't discovered."

"Maker... you're truly an ancient goddess." Hawke laughed.

"She does seem like it sometimes, doesn't she?" Anders said. "But I know she doesn't feel like it. She is still human, no matter what anyone else thinks, and you should keep it in mind."

"I'm sorry." Hawke said, taken aback. "I didn't mean to insult..."

"Oh, it's all right." Claire said. "I took no offense. It just makes me uncomfortable when people make a big deal about it... some of the mages, I've seen the way they look at me, almost as if they worship me, and I can't stand it. But you, I know you would never do that. You've seen me at my worst." She smiled.

"I was originally being sarcastic about going to the Tirashan forest, but you've intrigued me and I would like to go." Hawke said. "Perhaps not today, though. I actually came to see if you wanted to come with me to see the Dalish. The Keeper called for me, something about a hunter who's gone missing."

"Certainly." Claire said, getting more serious. "Shall we go now then?"

"The sooner the better." Hawke said, and before Anders could say anything, they were standing on a trail leading towards the Dalish camp. He'd been there a few times before, it was a quiet little place, but it was strange for them to be in one place for so long. The small group walked into the camp and the Keeper greeted them.

"I'm glad you were able to come so quickly." Marethari said. "We're afraid the hunter may be injured or worse, since he left on his own instead of waiting for a hunting party. He has always been a troubled one, who came to us from Denerim while we were still in the Brecilian forest."

"Is this Alberoth?" Claire asked quickly.

"You know him?" Marethari asked.

"It was I who rescued him from the city and brought him to you." Claire said. "Do you know which way he went?"

"The other hunters say he went off into the hills, to the north of us." The Keeper said. Claire nodded.

"We will do our best to find him and bring him safely back." Claire said. Anders was impressed with how she took control of the situation, when she normally would let Hawke lead, and wondered if it was because she knew the elf.

While they walked, Anders asked, "You said you rescued this elf?"

"I did." Her reply was curt and he figured she was pretty worried. "I met him outside the gates of Denerim, where he gave me some bread. I hadn't eaten in two days... he offered to help me and in exchange, I was to take him to the Dalish. I had offered to take him that day, but he said he would wait for me to be done, since he wanted to wrap up his own business. I got my job with the Wardens... when we got the call to head out, I went and got him. He was in a wine cellar... being made to be a plaything for a fat naked human. I should have kill the fat slob!" Her fist was clenched tight as she walked, and Anders was surprised she had never told him.

"Then I'm glad you were able to get him out of there before it was too late." Hawke said.

"Was I?" She asked. "He was plagued with nightmares, and he probably still has issues. I should have stayed with him a little longer, but I was anxious to get to Ostagar..."

"Another mistake." Anders said.

"Yes, I suppose in many ways, it was." Claire sighed. "I was a bit younger and stupider then, and full of confusing emotions I didn't know how to deal with. It doesn't matter now, though, we just need to find Alberoth." Anders put his hand on Claire's back and she gave him a soft smile before focusing on the path again.

They searched the foothills for a while, looking for any sign of Alberoth, until the sun was starting to get low. Hawke spotted a bit of fabric in the underbrush and went to look, finding the elf unconscious but alive. Anders quickly knelt down and began healing the elf, who didn't seem too badly damaged. He'd suffered a blow to the head from behind, which only raised more questions.

"Claire, there's a possibility someone lured him out here to kill him." Anders spoke quietly.

"What do you mean?" Hawke asked, kneeling down. "He didn't fall and hit his head?"

"No, the way he's lying on his belly like this?" Anders gestured to show his point. "And look, there are drag marks, showing someone else put him here to hide his body."

"The question is, who? And why?" Claire mused. "This may be something I go into the Fade for."

"Are you certain?" Anders asked. "I know how you feel about doing that..."

"It's the quickest way, and the surest way to know no one else will find out what we suspect." She said. "If we go around the camp asking questions, we may scare the person away and we would definitely make it known what we suspect."

"Is this something I may not want to know about...?" Hawke asked nervously.

"Short story, I can go into the Fade and invade people's dreams, ask them questions and such without them suspecting anything." Claire sighed. "I hate doing it, I feel gross invading people's privacy like that, but I feel this is important."

"You... can manipulate people that way." Hawke said carefully. "I remember what the Keeper was telling me about somniari before we went into the Fade to help Feynriel."

"You don't have to worry about me doing that to you." She said. "I respect you a lot, Hawke."

"It's fine, I trust you." Hawke said. "And I agree, this is an occasion I feel such efforts are necessary. Will you wait until tonight, then?" Anders realized then how far Hawke had come, that he would trust Claire despite her abilities. Or, was it because of her abilities, and that she had never done anything to Hawke, but only for him?

"Yes, I will camp here, after I've sent you and Anders back to the clinic."

"Claire, I don't want to leave you." Anders said.

"Do you want to sleep out here then?" She asked.

"Count me in too." Hawke said. "I'll keep first watch." He pulled out a bottle from his pack. "I even brought the wine!"

"Well, if that's the case then, let me at least get some supplies!" Claire grinned before she vanished.

"I hope she remembers to bring some blankets." Hawke said, sitting down beside the still unconscious elf. "Looks like our friend here will need one, the night air is already getting colder."

"I'm sure she will." Anders said, noting that Hawke looked a lot better than when he'd walked into the clinic.

"You know, I think you and Claire are the only ones who haven't made a big deal out of me being made Champion of Kirkwall." Hawke said. "Varric is just eating it up with his storytelling. I just hope he doesn't get too carried away, I've been hearing some strange rumors lately."

"I figured it was something you didn't want in the first place." Anders said. "Just another burden for you to bear, cleaning up other people's messes. I thank the Maker I have Claire by my side to help clean up my messes... though I try not to make such a mess of things for her. She has enough on her plate as it is."

"You're right, I didn't want this, but here I am." Hawke sighed. "You know how it is, you're fighting some giant grey monsters invading your city, and then next thing you know, you've killed their leader and the people are praising you as they scream your name. I thought the knight-commander was going to eat me alive, but she knew what the people wanted."

"She doesn't like you then?"

"She complained she's seen my name too often in her reports." Hawke laughed. "I can't imagine why she'd be displeased, unless she thinks I'm interfering with the Templars somehow."

"No, she's just a very paranoid woman." Claire stepped from the shadows. "She doesn't trust anyone, blood magic is around every corner, and it's only getting worse. When she was a child... her sister was a mage, but their parents shielded her from the Chantry, afraid she wouldn't be able to survive. The Templars were eventually called down on the girl, who made a deal with a demon in desperation, killing more than seventy people in the village, including her own parents."

"And so Meredith fears magic because of what her sister did?" Hawke looked horrified. Claire had told Anders that story before, so he wasn't surprised, but it still made him angry to hear it.

"Yes, and that fear is only growing." Claire set her things down and laid a blanket over Alberoth. "Remember how I said Kirkwall is corrupting people? Her paranoia is being fed by that corruption, causing it to become worse. We still have a few years yet, so we shouldn't worry about it until then, and just keep doing what we can now." She put her hands on Alberoth's head, a soft glow around her.

"What are you doing?" Hawke asked.

"Healing him." Claire replied. "I want to ask him some questions, though I don't want him moving until tomorrow." Slowly, the elf began to fidget, until his eyes finally opened.

"What..."

"Hello, Alberoth." Claire said, putting a pillow under his head. "It's been a while, and I didn't expect our reunion to be this dramatic. I pray the next one isn't so bad, it would be a shame to make this a habit." Alberoth gave a small laugh.

"I don't know what happened..." He mumbled. "I was... hunting. I just wanted to be alone, but... I heard a noise behind me, I think? But I don't remember anything after that."

"Was there anyone in the clan who has a problem with you?" Anders asked. "You were hit from behind and dragged under a bush to hide your body." Alberoth's eyes widened and he sat up, wincing in pain as he did so.

"You mean someone tried to kill me?" He gasped.

"We don't know." Claire said. "I'm going to be interrogating the clan tonight in the hopes I can find out, but you will stay here in the forest with us until I determine it's safe for you." She reached behind her and pulled out a bag that had an unmistakable aroma of fresh bread that made Anders' mouth water.

"Damn, woman, fresh bread at this hour?" Hawke asked, holding out his hand. "How do you do it?"

"Certain places in Orlais bake all day, and all night." She grinned. "The rich like to eat fresh for dinner too, you know." She handed Hawke and Alberoth chunks of bread, then Anders.

"You didn't steal this, did you?" Anders asked, to which she shrugged a little.

"Well, I wouldn't quite call it stealing..." She said. "I... switched out two cheaper loaves I got in Kirkwall for the fresh stuff that was still in the oven. I don't much care for that little lordling anyway, he likes his servants crying, so he can eat cheap bread for once." She then suddenly disappeared for a second, and reappeared holding a large bowl full of stew. "Now this, I paid full for this, but I figured it was worth it." Alberoth immediately began digging in, reminding Anders that he'd been missing for a while and probably hadn't had any food in that time.

Anders took his time dipping his bread in the stew while Claire filled some cups with wine, and Hawke was just watching with an amused expression on his face as he slowly picked off pieces of bread.