Dearest Father,
And here I thought there'd be nothing interesting to do today. I sat down to try and get through the dozens of letters I need to attend to (the stack just keeps growing with each passing day!) and Aveline stopped by. It was the first time she saw the estate completely finished with all of Mothers decorating, and I think she was a little taken aback by it all. Who can blame her? I'm overwhelmed by it sometimes. I miss our cozy little home in Lothering, less stairs, but I can't complain about the luxuries of baths and a full warm bed.
Aveline said that templar, Emeric, the one from a few years ago that was looking into the disappearing women? He apparently had a lead that led him to a suspect and brought it to Aveline and the guard. Her men followed up and found nothing, but Emeric didn't want to let it go. I agreed to check it out, but only if she came with me.
It seems after I helped her with Donnic, Aveline has taken it upon herself to become my matchmaker now. She only agreed to go if I brought Sebastian with us. I hesitated at first; there's still so much unsaid between he and I that I wasn't sure facing him right now would be a good thing. But she convinced me; a fun day of looking for a serial killer that didn't exist was exactly what we needed to start talking again. I wasn't so sure, so I brought Fenris along as well for backup. Those two seem to get along sometimes, or at least when they argue they keep me out of it.
We went to the Gallows to talk to Emeric. I avoided Cullen the entire time, but I still felt his eyes on me. Fenris noticed it too, giving me that warning growl he does when he says my name. I assured him I wasn't going to start any trouble with the knight-captain and was only there to help Aveline. I did search the courtyard for Carver, but it seems yet again he wasn't around when I was there. I thought joining the templars was a better way for him to keep an eye on me? Or so he says, but I can never find him.
I went to talk to Emeric, but it turned out to be more of a continued argument between him and Aveline. He claims the guard did nothing to help. Aveline says her men raided the suspect's mansion and found nothing, which led to her getting into a lot of trouble. The Knight-Commander herself had forbidden Emeric to look into it any further because of the heat that came down from harassing a noble. I get harassed all the time, why don't I have the luck of templars leaving me alone? Well, the more I think about it, maybe I do have that luck. I should keep my mouth shut.
I don't understand why Aveline was so certain Emeric was wrong. After the evidence we found a few years ago it was clear there was a murderer in Kirkwall, and Emeric made the connection to a man named Gascard DuPuis. Aveline refused to come with us to investigate the place again, something about the Viscount threatening to remove her from her job if she harassed the noble again. So I enlisted Isabela's help and we waited for nightfall.
Fenris allowed us to stay at his mansion. He told us that DuPuis was actually his neighbor and had suspected the man was up to no good, sneaking in and out at all hours of the night. We waited until we heard Dupuis come home and then Isabela was kind enough to let us in, and we checked into it for ourselves. Immediately attacked by demons and shades, it seemed we were in the right place.
We found a note from First Enchanter Raddick of Starkhaven. That piqued Sebastian's interest. Apparently Gascard was inquiring into some missing mages from the Starkhaven circle; probably others that fled when Grace and them did. The First Enchanter ignored Gascard's request for information though according to the letter, stating that templars only are allowed to inquire about the mages. Sebastian kept the letter and said he'd look into it later.
We also found the letter from Meredith offering her apologies for Emeric's involvement and the raid from the guards. I find it a bit odd though, after discovering that Gascard is a mage, that Meredith would even stoop so low as to apologize to him. Was it only because he is a noble? Is that why she's left me alone? Because of the nobility status? Fenris figured Gascard was just clever in complaining to the Knight-Commander about Emeric. That's one way to stop the investigation. But after we found Gascard, I believed his story.
Yes, I jumped ahead before. Gascard is a mage. Blood mage at that. The murderer took his sister and he's been tracking him ever since. He had set up this little charade in the hopes of catching the killer, and instead got us. It made sense why Emeric kept finding things that pointed to Gascard since they were both searching for the same thing, they just didn't know it. I told Gascard I'd help him if I could, and went back to tell Emeric what we found out.
Unfortunately the killer struck again while we were talking to Gascard. Someone sent Emeric a letter, claiming it was from me, and lured him to an alley near Lowtown. By the time we got there Emeric was already dead. Isabela thinks that Gascard was the one that killed him after we confronted him, but I don't agree with her. He wouldn't have had time to send a note to Emeric before we got there and then kill him. We went straight from Gascard's to the Gallows, it'd be impossible.
So no closer to finding the killer, and I think I've seen enough of Isabela cheating Merrill at Diamondback for one night. Heading home Father; will write again tomorrow. Miss and love you.
"Is that yelling coming from your estate?" Sebastian asked as they approached Hawke's residence.
Hawke sighed as she opened the door. "Sounds like my adoring uncle," she said sarcastically as they proceeded into the living room.
Unfortunately she wasn't wrong. Gamlen was engaged in conversation with Sandal, though no one really conversed with the dwarf. As her uncle was learning, you could talk to Sandal all day, and his favorite response was nothing other than, "Enchantment!"
"What are you doing here?" Hawke asked Gamlen, remaining close to Sebastian. Seeing her uncle in the estate unsettled her for some reason. Being near him at all anywhere did.
"There you are," Gamlen turned his attention toward her, and then eyed Sebastian behind her. "Your mother didn't show up for our weekly visit. Is she ill? Would you have even noticed? Or were you too busy whoring about with that man behind you?"
Hawke clenched her teeth, placing a hand on Sebastian's arms when he had opened his mouth to protest. "Sebastian is a friend of mine Uncle. Do not disrespect him or I shall ask you to leave."
Gamlen shrugged but remained firm. "Fine fine, whatever. But your mother, is she here? It's not like her to miss a visit."
Regrettably Hawke didn't even know if her mother were home. She had been out all day and night dealing with Emeric and Gascard. She turned to Bodahn who had just entered the room. "Bodahn, is mother here?" she asked.
"No," was his response to her and Gamlen. "In fact we haven't seen her all day. I believe she is with her suitor perhaps."
Gamlen said the word as if it were impossible. "Suitor? Leandra never mentioned any suitor."
Bodahn was happy to inform them of Leandra's newest friend. "A fine gentleman. Even sent her those white lilies this morning."
Hawke felt the blood drain from her face, and her knees nearly gave out supporting her. Sebastian was immediately beside her, holding on to her elbow to assist. "White lilies," she whispered. "Oh no, oh Maker no."
"Are you daft woman?" Gamlen snapped. "What is it?"
She walked toward the flowers, removed one from the vase and held it in her shaking hand. "There's a killer in Kirkwall," she answered. "He sends his victims white lilies before he takes them; he's murdered several women already." Hawke avoided Gamlen's stare and looked up at Sebastian. "We have to tell Gascard. He might be able to help."
Sebastian nodded. "Your uncle should return to his home in case Leandra arrives. We should get Fenris and head to Darktown immediately."
"And Anders," Hawke added, not wanting to think of her mother possibly hurt but knowing Anders was the best healer between them. "Bodahn, please inform Aveline everything that I've just told you."
The dwarf nodded, exiting the estate immediately with Sandal. "Find her," Gamlen said to Hawke before he left as well.
Hawke turned her attention back to the vase of flowers. She carefully returned the one she had removed and arranged them as they were before she touched them. A second later the vase went flying toward the stairs, shattering into several pieces against the railing. Water cascaded down the first three steps where the remains had landed, and she watched as the rug absorbed it.
His arms were around her in an instant, his armor pressing into her as he held her back to his chest. "We'll find her Hawke," Sebastian assured her.
She allowed herself a minute to take comfort in his words before nodding, and then they too left to begin the search for Leandra.
Fenris, Sebastian, and Hawke made their way to Darktown. After stopping in Anders' clinic and filling him in on what was happening, Anders led them to the other side of Darktown where he had heard Gascard was hiding. The blood mage was there, and offered his assistance to Hawke.
When he found out her mother was missing, Gascard offered her a way to find her. It seems the killer had recently taken Alessa as well, the woman Gascard had used for bait in the trap Hawke stepped into inadvertently. His original plan was to track the killer using Alessa's blood, which he still had, and offered to do the spell now to find Hawke's mother.
She didn't hesitate in allowing him to do so. "Use the blood," she told him. "I need to find my mother." And to Hawke's surprise, none of her friends tried to talk her out of it either.
Hawke had witnessed Merrill use blood magic before, but that was nothing compared to what Gascard had done. After slitting his hand he levitated, and then nearly choked on his own blood when he fell to the ground. The unnatural feeling in the air disturbed Hawke physically as she felt demons from the Fade honing in on the magic like a beacon. She was certain Anders felt it too when she turned to see him and his eyes were tightly shut. Sebastian stood speechless, and Fenris remained neutral.
After completing the spell, Gascard led them to the Foundry where they had found the bones from the previous women a few years ago. A passageway they hadn't noticed before was suddenly visible, and Hawke began running through the underground chasing a trail of blood. The others tried to stop her by calling out to her, but she could no longer hear them. Her heart pounding in her chest was the only sound she could focus on, and she didn't stop until she was forced to by demons, corpses, and shades.
The rest was all a blur to her. Hawke barely remembered the remains of Alessa, whom she thought was her mother at first. Or the several attacks that her friends and Gascard assisted her with. She hadn't bothered to register the notes they'd found about preserving skin, or hands and feet. The painting they found that looked like Leandra, or the locket, or the books on necromancy... none of it sunk in until the deformed stitched together corpse came walking toward her.
She vaguely remembered that Gascard had lied. Had been seeking the murderer, Quentin, to learn from him instead of wanting revenge. "Don't you see what he's done?" Hawke asked Gascard, still in shock and disbelief as what was left of her mother looked on.
Gascard helped them in the end. Dispatching more demons, raised shades, vile smelling corpses, and finally Quentin himself. As she stood among the carnage, staring out into what seemed like endless bodies, filth and decay, the sound of shuffling feet brought her attention back to her mother.
Leandra fell into her daughters arms. Anders apologized behind her, informing her there was nothing he could do. Again Hawke heard none of it, and could only focus on the pale white flesh that was similar to her mothers, but wasn't really hers. Only her voice was the same, as Leandra assured her daughter she was ready to be reunited with Bethany and Malcolm. Final words of pride and love drifted from dry chapped lips, and then Hawke's mother was gone.
Sebastian entered her bedroom quietly, hoping he'd find her asleep. It had been hours since they returned from the Foundry, after Aveline and her guards showed up to remove Leandra and clean up the mess Quentin had left behind. Hawke hadn't said a word the entire time, and when the silence from her room started to worry him, Sebastian decided to check on her.
But she wasn't asleep. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring off at nothing. He cleared his throat to announce his presence without startling her, and she turned to look at him. "Is this the part where you tell me she's in a better place? That's all anyone ever said after Father died."
He walked over to the bed and sat beside her. "If that would help you to hear," Sebastian answered. "Though I doubt it."
"You'd be correct," she answered, turning away from him to watch the fire.
"Is there anything you need me to do?" Sebastian asked. "I could inform your brother if you'd rather not."
She shook her head. "My uncle said he'd take care of that. Right after he blamed me for everything that has happened."
Sebastian placed his hand on hers. "You don't believe that, do you? There are so many others to blame in this. The man responsible, or DuPuis. But not you."
Her expression changed at the mention of Gascard, and she startled Sebastian when she stood. "Is Fenris still here?" she asked.
He nodded. "Aye. He's downstairs with the others."
Hawke immediately exited the bedroom and made her way down the stairs. She hadn't expected everyone to still be in the estate, but they were. All of her friends had gathered, for support she assumed, but there was only one thing on her mind. She ignored them as she moved through the living room and to the foyer to find Fenris seated on the bench. "Come with me," she said to him.
Fenris looked over her shoulder at Sebastian who had joined them. A questioning glance caused Sebastian to shrug. "Hawke, what is going on?"
"You can come too," she told Sebastian. "But there's something I need to take care of."
Sebastian assured the others she'd be alright and that they should all go home, and then he caught up with Fenris and Hawke as they moved swiftly through Hightown. Fenris didn't bother to ask Hawke where she was going, and Sebastian was content with her at least moving with some purpose for the first time since the Foundry. It wasn't until they had reached Darktown that Sebastian figured out where she was headed.
Gascard nearly ran into them coming down the stairs as he was attempting to flee. But Hawke pushed him back, Sebastian and Fenris remained on either side of her preventing him from moving any further. "Hawke," he called to her, his voice revealing his fear. "I was just coming to thank you, for showing me what a monster Quentin was." He hesitated, trying to find a way past the three of them. "I am really sorry about your mother."
"It's your fault she's dead," Hawke spat the words with disgust. "You knew him all along. You could've helped me stop this!"
"How was I supposed to know he was going to take your mother?" Gascard asked.
Hawke turned to Fenris, her eyes saying what she could not. He did not hesitate in his movements, one swift fluid motion and suddenly he was in front of them, his markings lit and his hand through Gascard's chest. "That pain you feel is just the beginning, mage" Fenris growled as he tightened his grip, twisting his arm through flesh and bone to cause as much damage as possible without killing the man.
Gascard was quick to reveal the entire story then. The truth behind his lies. That he had experimented on another woman when Quentin refused to teach him everything he knew. That he never had a sister that Quentin had killed. The more Hawke heard, the more she hated him, and hated herself for falling for his lies. "Please," Gascard begged. "Are you going to let him kill me? It won't bring your mother back!"
"No, it won't bring her back," Hawke whispered. "But it will make me feel better."
"Marian, don't," Sebastian spoke up. "You don't want to do this."
"You got your revenge," Hawke answered angrily. "I gave it to you. Now allow me to have mine."
"I can not stop you," Sebastian said as he moved in front of her, obstructing her view of Fenris and Gascard. "But you will hate yourself tomorrow if you do this, you know this to be true. You mustn't let your emotions rule in a time like this." He brought his hand to her face, gently caressing her cheek until she looked up at him. "Trust me on this, please."
Every thought in her head screamed for revenge, but his words touched her heart. She closed her eyes, leaning into his palm, and the tears finally fell. Sebastian pulled her into him and turned toward Fenris who had already removed his hand from Gascard's chest.
"I will see he find his way to the Gallows," Fenris informed them, pushing the blood mage toward the stairs and leaving the two of them alone.
Sebastian continued to hold her, stroking her hair and allowing her the release of emotion she desperately needed. When Hawke was so exhausted she could no longer stand, he picked her up and carried her to Anders' clinic, where he remained by her side through the night.