Chapter 43 – The pieces move into place.
As always, a huge thank you to my beta LostSpace for being so amazing!
And a big thanks you to all of you! I love hearing feedback and your support means so much to me!
Quentin stood in the cave, unperturbed by the scuttling of the creatures that hid in its depths. When he had received the letter he almost, for a moment, thought that Derek had returned from the dead, but he should have known better than to think that. As he waited he listened to the screeches of whatever prey was being mutilated by the other animals that resided in the cave with an upturned lip. He enjoyed witnessing nature at its best, the cruel conclusion of another thing's life dealt swiftly by its executioner. He found it to be so primal and yet refreshing.
Power ruled in every form of life. And yet he had found a way to defy nature itself, his love would be with him again. Just the parts, the parts were not right. This new girl, Jean, he thought he had found the right chest, the right curvaceous torso that matched his love's perfectly. But no, too skinny… Far too skinny.
It was not his fault he had to commit these acts, twas the Maker and his wicked deed. He took away his love and his new born babe before he even got to see them again. They were gone. Gone. Gone!
It had happened so quickly; one moment he had a purpose, friends, and a wife and child. The labour was harrowing, it killed her. Derek had been sending spies for months now and knew what Quentin had been experimenting on. He was not allowed to see his dead wife or child because they feared what a slash of his wrist could do. Self-righteous even in the end, but Quentin enjoyed the irony that it would have been his own work that could have saved Derek from his own undoing. Olivia they had called the still born child, and when he had built a new vessel for his love he would build a new babe too. His love would know what she looked like, he would get more parts. Build up his own baby girl with tender loving hands as he stitched his beautiful daughter.
He should have taken them and fled like Malcolm had. He should have fled and they could have lived. But no, no, he was too passionate, too selfish but in the end it did not do Malcolm any good. Twas a pity, Malcolm Hawke was one of the smartest men he had ever met and did what Quentin could not. Malcolm had fallen in love and left; Quentin had stayed and dragged her with him even though she hated it.
He should have- no, no, now was not the time for regrets. He would atone to her every day as soon as she was complete. He would make sure they lived forever and not even the Maker could stub their lives out. The spirits guided him, they always had but they had been louder in recent years. Derek had helped him shut them off but he was wrong. Quentin had found immense power with the spirit's guidance. Yet he owed Derek more than his own life and his debt would have to be repaid whether he liked it or not.
Footsteps approached him and knocked him out of his wandering thoughts. Quentin thumbed the dagger in his robe pocket as the man who made them came into his vision. The same smile slid across the new arrival's face - nothing had changed apart from the grisly scar across his face. Eric viewed Quentin with amusement, but Quentin kept a level head. He would need to find out how the idiotic templar had found him and deal with whatever exposure that had been risked.
"Throw the dagger to the ground Quentin. Let's play nicely for old time's sake," Eric said in his usual patronising tone. Quentin had not missed Eric that was sure – though he had admired Derek's apprentice, Eric had a nasty streak that would put Gaspard to shame.
Quentin paused for a moment debating, after a moment he conceded to Eric's command and threw the old dagger to the floor.
"Derek would be proud. I am not one who normally concedes so easily but I found your letter curious to say the least. In what way can you help me? Indulge me, then I can leave this hole and get back to my real work and-"Quentin began but Eric interrupted him swiftly.
"Not even a hello after all these years! Manners, Quentin, they cost you nothing. Well, actually they do in this case. See this dagger? It's almost the same as yours except this one is laced with magebane," Eric said with a forced smile as he showed him a very similar blade. Quentin's breathing hilted for a moment but he continued to stare at the ex-templar blankly- he knew how to provoke fear just as well Eric.
"I should have known it was your idea for Malcolm to die like that. Are you still jealous of him after all this time?" Quentin asked, a sickly grin smearing across his face at the memory of Eric's hatred for Malcolm Hawke. He found it ironic that this had all begun and ended with Malcolm Hawke. If he didn't know better he would have thought Malcolm himself saved his own child that night. Of course he had heard the rumours, but never got to know any hard facts. As soon as he had heard of Malcolm's murder he cut off contact from everyone and prayed they'd think he was dead. He had avoided them at all costs and for years he had been left alone until now. He knew this day would come, when the legacy of Derek would be calling for favours that people owed a dead man. He would listen to the proposal and if it was not to his liking take care of the situation swiftly. Quentin was getting old, he required…
Parts.
"I cannot claim that as my own, it was another. But we're not getting to the point. I'm quite busy and your presence disgusts me. I need something done and you will do it Quentin," Eric replied.
"And why should I?! I gave Derek all the notes I had, I gave him everything I could send through Orsino," Quentin replied, angered by the demands of a long forgotten man.
"I can help you rebuild what you lost. I want no part in your sick bastard ways but I can point you in the right direction and your debt will be repaid. I think that is more than sufficient," Eric said, his tone polite, something which made Quentin feel immediately on edge.
"What is the request?" Quentin asked.
"The apostate child, I assume you know who she is?" Eric replied.
"Yes, but I don't see what Malcolm's daughter has to do with this. You were warned, the theory had holes in it. I have no quarrel or need with the girl," Quentin answered, confused for a moment.
"Aria Hawke has everything to do with it. And you are going to end her or bring her to me. Do this and your debt will be repaid," Eric spat, turning away as he began to exit the cave without even waiting for Quentin's confirmation.
Quentin's hands began to fidget in anger at the way the fool commanded him. He was almost a god, a puppeteer that created life…
Before he could stop himself his hands circled and a blood red orb swirled around his fingertips. If Eric was dealt with then there would be no one else… No one else would even know he was alive, he could continue undisturbed.
The orb shot out of his hand and fired towards Eric, but before it could land Eric raised his hand up and the orb deflected towards the rocky walls of the cave, obliterating one of the closer boulders into dust.
Eric stopped in his tracks but did not turn to face Quentin.
"Did I mention that Aria Hawke's mother has a face that looks extremely familiar?"
Quentin's stomach bubbled in excitement as his lips mashed into a cruel grin of pure pleasure.
A.N- So I named this story Lyrium lines because I went with the concept that everyone is connected in a certain way, for every action of our own we cause a reaction to another person's life (if that makes sense, if it doesn't I'm sorry I know I must sound mad) and put this into the story of Dragon age two. As you have noticed Quentin knows Malcolm Hawke etc. More will be revealed later on! I just want to add I do not own the characters made by Bioware, but would like to thank them as the lack of context about Malcolm Hawke's death has made me think of my own story for the character! Also, a little bit of a side note, I added a bit of my own creativity to Quentin thought I'd add that he and his wife had a daughter but his wife died and so did the babe… well, that's what Derek said right? Take a look back on earlier chapters…