Ah, it's finally done and longer than the previous part. :)

You might have noticed, that the title and some parts of dialogues here and there remind of a certain song. Yes, thank you, Green Day. While I was writing the first chapter, I listened to them and noticed that their lyrics match Fenris&Hawke's story perfectly. Hence - the paraphrases, quotations, etc.

And yes, I've changed this part in comparison to how it was in the game, but I guess it was worth it.

I'll have some work to do, starting today (ohnoes) but I've already started the next chapter. For now it's as long as this one and I'm not done wth it yet. :D Hope this'll cheer you up. :)

Of course, the world and its habitants don't belong to me. :)

Enjoy!

The tension in Kirkwall grows almost unbearable. It looks like any minute now people will grab their knives, sticks and shovels to storm the qunari camp. The viscount frequently uses Hawke as a negotiator during the conflict - she seems to have gained some points of respect as far as Arishok is concerned. The horned warrior demands her presence so often, Fenris starts to wonder about Anders' remark. Additionally, their hands are full: spiders in the mine, thugs on Wounded Coast, Hightown's own serial killer and countless other emergencies keep them all occupied. They rarely spend more than one night in a row in their own beds and start to visit Anders' clinic instead of the Hanged Man. This night, though, as they arrive at Gascard DuPuis' estate, Fenris hopes they'll be able to tie at least one of the loose ends.

It all looks highly suspicious from the very beginning.

'It was the last one I could have used, Hawke, I'm sorry.' Varric makes a helpless face, putting useless picklock into his pocket. 'It's like no lock I've ever seen. It might sound stupid, I know, but it just... constantly changes.'

'All right. Then we'll have to do it the old-fashioned way.' Anders' eyes start to glow blue with Justice's power.

'Wait!' Fenris stops him. 'This mechanism, what you have said about it - I know it. I've seen it before. No picklock or magic force will destroy it. It's a job for you, Hawke.' He turns to her and she nods in understanding. Familiar glow shines from her hand as she touches the door. Nothing happens.

'Apparently I was wrong. Take your hand off. I'll taste it against my sword.'

'I can't-' Suddenly the structure of the wood changes and Hawke screams. One by one, the ornaments carved in the entrance start to glow red. 'It-...it feeds of my blood.' She cries in pain.

'Fenris! Is it supposed to be doing that? Anders comes to help her stand.

'I-I don't know. When Danarius opened the locks it never looked so painful.' He's confused. 'But the ornaments must be complete.'

'Hawke, hang on just a bit more.' But soon the last swirl is filled with red light, the door lets go of hand and opens as if nothing happened. Hawke falls but Anders catches her in time.

'Maker, she's drained... I swear, if it was some kind of your twisted revenge against our kind-' Mage's eyes start to shine.

'Playing blood magic is dangerous and Hawke knew it. I didn't force her to try opening it - it was her own decision. Besides, how else would we enter?' Fenris responds in anger.

'You should have known better!' Anders' voice modulates and energy vibrates around him. 'You lived with magisters!'

'There would be no magisters, no doors and no bloody problems if the Circles would have done their job properly.' The lyrium in Fenris' tattoos burns brightly with his rage.

Suddenly, sharp whistle cuts the air.

'Boys.' Varric steps between them. 'You can have your glowing fights after work. Now get the girl inside, before we become an easy prey for some local gang.' Fenris looks down at Hawke and feels a sting of shame. He helps Anders carry her through the doorstep.

'I don't understand. A few drops should have been sufficient.' They put her down on something that seems to be a luxury orlesian carpet.

'It didn't recognise me.' Hawke says weakly, her eyes still bloody red. 'I was not its master so it fed without limits.'

'You can't go on like that.' Anders examines the wounds on her palm. 'I'll have to fix you before-'

'Too late for that, lad.' Varric stops him and everybody turns their head in dwarf's direction. 'We're already fucked.' At first Fenris doesn't understand - darkness surrounding DuPuis residence fools even the elven sight. But then the darkness moves on its own, crawls. Shades. Dozens of them. With an unearthly screech the start flying towards them.

'Hawke, drink it, right now - we need you.' Anders opens one of his potions, but she shakes her head.

'It won't work. Not when I'm like that.'

'Like what?!' Anders shouts when first shades attack his shield.

'She can't be healed when using blood magic.' Fenris steps in, cutting the phantoms. Suddenly he notices some other, flying towards Hawke. 'Watch it!'

'I've got it.' Varric's arrows hit them and monsters disappear with deafening shrieks. 'But we won't hold on long like that.'

'Can't you just switch it off?' The circle of shades surrounding them is getting tighter and closer.

'The more blood I use, the less prone to healing I am. It takes time for me to adjust to it.' Fenris doesn't like the direction this conversation is taking.

'Isn't there any other way? My shields can crush any minute now...' Of course, there is, he thinks. But Hawke doesn't say anything. Doesn't she know? Impossible. Since I remember I could do this, she told him. She must know. Be he won't give it to her, he won't let anyone enslave him - not when he fought for his freedom so long. He looks at Hawke, lying powerless on the ground, but feels nothing but contempt for her, magisters and all of their kind. Weak and selfish, craving for power. Why would he offer her something, that was taken by force his entire life? Fenris looks around: the shades had trapped them and there's no way out. He's the strongest, but how long will he stand his ground if the other fall? He wouldn't leave them, he wouldn't condemn them to die. So that's what it's like to have a choice. Feels bitter, nonetheless.

'Hawke! You owe me!' He shouts. 'Take it. Now.' Anders' shields buzz dangerously and there's sweat and tiredness on mages face. 'Do it!' And then Fenris feels it: fresh wounds on his body slowly begin to smart. She's gentle, too gentle and delicate with him - they'll never make it like that. 'Damn it, Hawke! Faster!' He's not ready for the pain when it comes, he forgot it. His flesh burns and weakness overpowers him, but there's no stopping now. Images start to flood his memory, blurred and chaotic: red glow, someone's laugh, green garden, red hair. Then it all goes away.

'All right, everybody.' He hears Hawke right behind him. 'Watch out.' A storm of fire floods their enemies, burning and crashing them. 'Anders, your potion!' She catches the bottle in flight. 'Here, drink it.'

'You still owe me.' Fenris snarls but drains the flacon. He feels his powers back inside, accumulating, giving him strength.

With the fourth person on the team alive and fighting, they consistently slaughter shades until the last one falls with an ears-piercing cry. The rest of the estate leaves no doubt about its owner - a blood mage apostate. All the secret letters, blood flacons, artefacts - Fenris wonders how did the templars manage to overlook the obvious. And the neighbours? You have to hear or notice something out of order, when you live next door to a serial killer. Or do you? Not once had anybody other than his companions knocked on his door during those three years. People are selfish, they don't care.

Final meeting with the alleged killer brings only more questions. Gascard DuPuis admits to practicing blood magic, but at the same moment claims not to be the one Hawke is looking for. The terrified woman they find by his side is too shocked to be of any help. DuPuis tells them a story about his sister, also a victim of this serial killer, and his own attempts to avenge her. All of this smells like a one big lie to Fenris. However, Hawke decides to let the man free.

'One day, Hawke' He starts as they leave the mansion. 'You're going to pay the price for your naiveness. The highest price of all.'

'One shall always seek innocence in the other man's heart.' She speaks the old saying. Those words make him sick.

'This man was everything but innocent.' He responds angrily.

'And what do people like us know about innocence, Fenris?' She says quietly.

'The innocent can never last.' He replies thoughtfully, more to himself, than to Hawke.

There's a loud sound of clearing throat behind them.

'Someone has to bring the news to the old templar anyway.' Varric interrupts their discussion with more pragmatic matters.

'Actually, I'll be glad to do that.' Anders says. 'I have some business to take care of at the Gallows and you, Hawke, should get some proper rest.'

'Look at me, I'm fine now...' She tries to defend but the mage gives her a serious look.

'Don't argue with a healer.' Anders ends the discussion and the group parts their ways.

The night is rather cold, but unbelievably still, unspoiled by usual sounds of the city. The summer ends, Fenris thinks, and changes will come with autumn winds. Just like the last year. Except this time he's a free man and no longer alone. This thought makes him smile.

'May I walk you home, Lady Hawke.' He asks with an exaggerated courtesy and Hawke laughs.

'I'd be delighted' She responds in a similar manner. 'unfortunately I'm not heading home.'

'And where are you headed then?'

'I thought you might want to tell me, messere.'

Thanks for reading! Revievs and comments highly appreciated! :)