Anders and Varric moved quickly, though both were uncertain if there was a point to what they were doing. Even if by some miracle they found a clue as to the whereabouts of their friends, there was no telling how long it would take to gather their crew and storm the place.

They walked silently through the quiet streets, heading for the Hanged Man, where Varric said he could gather information and get people on the lookout for their friends.

Once they arrived, Anders waited impatiently for Varric to have his private conversations. He rushed to the dwarf once he looked finished.

"Well?!" he demanded.

"Not much to go on," Varric said seriously. "Hawke came through awhile ago, but didn't stay long. Just came in, looked around and walked back out. Seems he was looking for Little dove and Button as well."

Anders sighed in defeat. "Now what?" he asked.

"We have a few options, though none are certain. My suggestion would be to leave someone here to relay to the others as they come, and then get out on the streets and hope someone saw something."

"Hope? That's it?" Anders asked.

"You think of something better, Blondie?" Varric asked, not taking offense. He really wished there was a better option.

"Unfortunately, no,"Anders replied. First Emeric, then the girls, and now Hawke, he thought, thinking of the message Fenris had shared with him. He hoped fervently that his friends' fate was kinder than the templar's.

"Cat, I can't do this…" Hawke said, closing his eyes. "I've never tried anything like this before. I could easily kill you without realizing it."

"If you don't, he will most definitely kill you, and eventually me. This way, at least one of us lives for certain, though I won't lie… I hope you do it right and I don't die at all."

Hawke made a disgusted noise at her flippant attitude. "I've had discussions with Merrill about how she does blood magic, that's it! I'd say it's pretty certain you'll die if I try. If I'm killed, you could still get away from that monster when he lets his guard down."

"No… because he won't care if he kills me. He's trying to perfect his necromancy." She could hear Gascard moving slowly nearby. "Please try Hawke," she asked again. "I don't want to be undead."

There was silence between them, and they could hear Gascard standing back up.

"You fought valiantly, but you were no match for me," he sneered as he moved. "One more ought to take any further fight out of you, and then you can hear her screams as you die!"

"Cat," she heard from Hawke, as Gascard started limping forward, moving his staff. "Once you feel the spell, get away as fast as you can. If I can't stop, I need you to get out of range."

"Okay," she replied, and hissed as she felt something slice down her hip, just before Hawke started screaming and writhing again.

She wished she could get into a position where she could at least touch him, let him know she was there, but the way she was positioned with the chair, all she could do was kick him in the head if she tried.

When Hawke went silent, she could hear Gascard start chuckling to himself. She wished strongly that she had a dagger, if only for a moment, so she could shut him up for good.

Cat gasped softly as she felt something on her leg. She thought that the blood had started to congeal, but now it was flowing freely, oozing down her leg in a steady stream. She had no idea what exactly was happening, but knew enough to brace herself. Hawke was doing something… whether the spell would succeed or fail, she didn't know, but her heart soared with hope.

It wasn't pain exactly, more like the tingling feeling, the same as in her arm as it was slowly shaking off the numbness. The feeling became more uncomfortable, and she noticed how drowsy she felt as her eyelids fluttered. Following Hawke's instructions, she dug in her heels and pushed against the ground, moving slowly away from him.

It was even slower going than before, but she kept yelling to herself silently, to keep going even when her body wanted to stop. She pushed past Olivia, focusing on Hafter, knowing if she stopped she would just break down again. She pressed forward hoping against hope that the hound was still breathing.

Cat's progress slowed as her leg that had been cut refused to move any more. She couldn't tell if she was still losing blood, but felt more tired than she could ever remember, her body begging for her to stop.

"Hafter…" she breathed out, pushing with her single foot, until she was next to the hound where she collapsed. She fought to keep her eyes open, and was rewarded to see Hafter's chest rise and fall, though it was shallow. Her eyes closed, and her head dropped to the ground as a smile formed on her lips.

"I can understand why you'd leave the man," Gascard's voice came from above her. "After all, he failed to help you… but what can a dead hound do?" he laughed at her. Cat forced her eyes open, though she had a hard time focusing.

"We could always experiment with the man and the dog before bringing Livvy back," he mused. "Of course necromancy only works on the dead…" he smiled at her, and Cat shrank back as best she could. "Though I must admit, killing you all and getting some peace is too tempting to pass up."

Cat had no chance to do anything but brace herself for the blow as Gascard lifted his staff in the air, brandishing his staff blade above her. "Don't worry my pet, I'll bring you back soon enough, and we'll have a very long talk… about everything."

Cat just closed her eyes, not able to fight any longer. The growl and scream she heard had her eyes flying open, her body trying to move hastily away but unable to. Gascard's arm was between Hafter's jaws, and as the hound bit down, Cat could hear the snap of his bones.

Unable to hold onto his staff, he dropped it, pulling at Hafter's ear trying to get him to let go while the dog used all energy to hold on, unable to even hold himself up, and nearly taking Gascard to the ground with his weight alone.

Fighting for his life, Gascard began kicking, trying to get the war dog to let go of his hold, and he struck the dog where his earlier spell had hit. With a whine, the dog released him, collapsing to the ground.

Cat stared, knowing from the anger and hatred on the mage's face that Hafter wouldn't survive another hit. Gascard moved forward, his broken arm hanging limp at his side while lightning gathered in his other palm for the strike.

He choked suddenly, looking down where his own staff blade protruded from his chest.

"That's for my dog," Hawke grit out from behind him, twisting the staff and yanking it back out.

Gascard collapsed on the ground, his mouth moving though no sound emerged, his good hand pawing at his chest in unbelief until he went still.

Only then, did Hawke also fall, though he continued to pant loudly. Cat's eyes closed again as she reveled in the sound before she drifted away.

Trying to resist the urge to rush through the tunnel, Anders let out another growl at the way Varric and Isabela would stop to check for traps.

"You're not helping," Isabela commented, even as they moved forward.

"I'm trying," he gritted out. "But I feel like we're going to be too late! I know," he added before any of the others could tell him how much longer it would take if they were caught in a trap. "I know we're doing this right, but still!"

"If it helps Blondie, we all feel the same," Varric spoke up. "We're not being as thorough as we normally would."

"Thank the Maker for small mercies," Anders muttered under his breath.

"We will be there soon," Fenris spoke up as Isabela gestured for them to move forward again. "Prepare yourselves."

"It's too quiet," Sebastian added. "If we're dealing with another necromancer, we should have had one of the templars accompany us."

"No," the rest of them answered him in unison.

"I understand your feelings on the subject," he replied with a roll of his eyes. "I just hope we don't regret it."

Seeing the door up ahead, Fenris let Isabela and Varric determine if it was trapped before he had them step back. He had decided he would be the first to enter, being the sturdiest of them all, and having some resistance to magic. Hopefully any attack that came wouldn't kill him.

He listened at the door a moment, and hearing nothing, he stepped back and gave the others a signal. Then he kicked the door in.

Everyone paused, waiting for an attack, and when none came, they moved forward. Fenris took in the state of the room, seeing several bodies lying around. "Check them!" he called, heading over to one he didn't recognize.

"Kitty!"

"Olivia!"

"Hawke!"

He could hear the others calling out to their friends, even as he kept his sword at the ready. Using his foot, he turned the body over, seeing the large hole in its back. He didn't recognize the face, but could tell instantly that he was dead. The look of surprise on its face was intriguing, as was the fact the man had obviously been stabbed with something large through his chest, piercing all the way through.

"NOOOOO!"

The scream of anguish came from Anders, and as Fenris turned, he felt as if his heart stopped beating for a moment or two. He saw Anders on his knees screaming up to the ceiling in pain, the unmistakable blueish-lit cracks in his skin telling that he was losing his control.

Fenris looked, seeing Olivia laying before him, her eyes unseeing as she stared up as well, her light hair fanned around her head in some sort of ethereal halo. He closed his eyes, feeling horrid for the relief he felt that it wasn't Hawke… or Cat.

"Anders… I need you!" Isabela called, and Fenris could see she was torn between staying with Cat or leaving her to get the healer, who obviously didn't hear her.

"He's alive!" Merrill called out, leaning over Hawke's prone form. "But wounded!"

"The hound is alive as well, though barely," Sebastian called.

Fenris looked from one to the other as the announcements calmed him slightly. He watched as Varric made his way to Anders.

"I can barely feel a pulse on the Little dove, Blondie! If you don't help her, she'll die!"

Anders face whipped to the dwarf the screaming stopping suddenly, his eyes completely gone in a sea of blue. "What is one more death?" an other-wordly voice asked in place of his own. "I will have my vengeance!"

"She has been avenged," Fenris said firmly. "The blood mage is dead." The abomination turned to look at him now, and Fenris glared back, gesturing down to the body beside him. "Would you add more victims by grieving now?"

"Fenris…" Merrill said on a gasp.

Fenris watched as the healer shook his head, the blue leaving him suddenly. The face that had been so full of fury was now full of despair and sorrow. "The others still need you," he told Anders, grateful that he was back to himself.

Anders' face crumpled, his shoulders shaking in silent sobs. "Where?" he asked, fighting his emotions and trying to focus.

"Here!" Isabela called. "She's pale and cold, but she's breathing!"

Anders hurried over, and Fenris again sighed in relief. He looked over at the smaller healer's body, regret and shame washing through him, even as gratitude did as well. Then turning, he went over to Merrill and Hawke.

Looking over his friend and leader, he could see that while he was wounded he seemed well enough. His eyes were closed, but he was breathing peacefully, as if simply weary from the day. Fenris kept his ears trained to where Cat was, worried more now for her.

"Get this down her," Anders said. Fenris could feel the magical aura, and knew the healer would do all he could to save their friend. The grieving would come later, and knowing the mage, it would hit hard.

"Fenris?" Hawke asked, and Fenris looked down to see his eyes opened and questioning.

"Hawke," Fenris replied.

"Hawke!" Merrill exclaimed. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

Fenris took that moment to stand and simply observe. Merrill explained what had happened, and how they had found them all, while helping Hawke to sit up, and wrapping a cloak around him.

"Fenris, Merrill," Hawke said, and Fenris refocused from the group nearby to Hawke, his eyebrow up in a questioning look. "Is Cat okay?" he asked.

Fenris glanced over again, seeing Cat's eyes fluttering, even as Isabela helped support her as she stood. "She is alive," he responded. "I do not know the state of her injuries."

"Kitty?!" he heard Isabela exclaim, even as he watched Cat lurching forward on her hands and knees, moving toward the fallen hound.

"Hafter!" she cried out.

Cat couldn't care less what Issy or Anders were saying, and they wouldn't let her get a word in edgewise. She had to know if Hafter was still alive! She moved as Isabela was adjusting her hold, and while she didn't have the strength to stand, she now felt a surge of energy, enough to move.

She crawled forward, seeing Hafter farther away then she thought, but since she wasn't still tied up, she must have been moved. "Hafter…" she called, reaching out.

She lifted his head, putting it in her lap, and petting him as she started crying again. She didn't see the looks the others were exchanging, and she didn't care. This amazing hound had saved her life.

"I'm so sorry boy," she said softly, leaning down to kiss his head. She stopped suddenly, hearing a soft huff. "Hafter?" she asked, as his tongue lolled out of his mouth.

Hawke turned at her question, and moved quickly at her next words. "He's alive!"

Cat looked up as Hawke ungracefully fell in front of her, his hands moving to Hafter's head, checking him over thoroughly.

"Oh Maker, Hafter, don't scare me like that," he said, even as a tear escaped his eye and rolled down his cheek.

Cat looked over at him, her heart melting slightly as she saw the love on his face. His hands emitted a glow as he started to heal his hound.

"Hawke, you're in no shape to heal!" Anders said, pulling him back by the shoulder. He gave Hawke's shoulder a squeeze and his voice gentled. "I'll take care of him."

Hawke nodded in gratitude, then turned to look at Cat, and their eyes met.

"You okay?" he asked, and she nodded, even as she continued to pet Hafter. The hound was quickly worn out, and fell asleep in her lap. She looked beside her as Isabela sat next to her.

"Lean on me, Kitty," she said, and Cat nodded again, leaning slightly into her.

Merrill came and sat next to Hawke, giving Cat's head a brush with her hand as she passed.

"I'm sorry," Cat said.

The others glanced around to each other before looking back to her. Fenris, being restless began searching through the room, but staying within earshot.

"You don't have to tell us now Kitty," Isabela said, brushing a hand through her friend's hair, which she knew she enjoyed. "You need to rest."

"I want to," Cat said, looking down at the hound with a smile. "I think it will be more difficult if I wait, and I want you to know."

"He'll live," Anders said with a heavy breath, and shifting from his knees in front of Cat to sit on the other side of Hawke. "But his front leg isn't responding to the healing. He may end up losing it." He turned to Hawke. "I'm so sorry."

"Anders, you're the best healer I've ever met, and I thought Hafter was dead. If he loses a leg, he'll still be a better fighter than most men in Kirkwall," Hawke replied, putting his arm around the other mage. "You're amazing."

Anders looked up at Cat, and she wanted to cry again at the look in his eyes. "Tell me the truth Cat," he said quietly. "If we were earlier, could I have saved her?" he asked.

Cat turned, looking over at where Olivia's body lay, seeing Sebastian using a few of their cloaks to wrap around her. She was glad, knowing she wouldn't be able to do it without breaking down.

"No," she answered turning back to her friend. Her face clouded as she thought of Gascard. "He was planning to kill her anyway, then bring her back using necromancy. He was Quentin's apprentice."

"That's… quite the coincidence…" Varric stated.

"I'm not sure that it was, actually," Cat replied. She looked back at Anders. "Did she say anything about a mage she was seeing?" she asked.

"No…" he answered. "I could tell there was someone, but she refused to speak of him, though I guessed he was a mage since she kept taking more and more missions for the underground." He stopped as he realized what she meant. "That was him?!" he asked.

"Yes," she agreed. "Being alone at the wedding was difficult, because she felt so in love with him, and after having so much to drink…" She hung her head. "I'm so sorry… it's all my fault!"

"How exactly?" Isabela asked, seeing Anders look startled.

"I said something about being with the one you love, no matter what challenges are in your way. Who cared what others may say? If you want to be together, then be together." She sighed. "So Olivia stood up to go. There was no one else around, so I agreed to go so she wouldn't be alone, and because she wanted me to meet him."

"And she brought you here?" Varric asked, looking around. "Didn't that set off any bells, Little dove?"

"It did," she answered. "But she wasn't going to leave, and I wasn't going to leave without her. And I admit, I was curious about this secret man…" She glared down at the ground. "But he was an impostor!"

"He is?!" Anders demanded, moving forward, even as Hawke held him back, his arm still around his shoulders.

"Let's hear it all," he suggested.

Cat hardly looked at her friends as she told the whole story. She explained who Gascard was, and Sebastian confirmed his identity, having met him previously. She told them of his connection to the First Enchanter through Quentin, and even explained about Quentin's research, implying that Gascard had been the source of that information.

Anders corroborated the story, knowing that there was a noble that was helping to hide items that were brought out of the Gallows by the underground.

She played down Gascard's manipulation of Olivia, only saying that he used their relationship to get her on his side, but did tell of his lie about reversing tranquility, to which Anders let out a huge sigh.

"She would have been interested in anyone for that," he said. "It was an obsession for her, as it was her greatest fear. She used to say that she would turn into an abomination before being made tranquil."

Cat nodded, understanding a little more of her friend. "I had assumed he was a blood mage, but the proof came when he had Olivia tie me up. She did it without me realizing, and I could see the blood dripping from his hand when it happened. Then she was rubbing her head as if in pain or confused."

"Sounds like a blood thrall," Merrill explained. "A mage wouldn't be as susceptible, but knowing that they were seeing each other frequently, she would be open to him."

"That's when Hawke crashed in," Cat explained. "Gascard grabbed Olivia like a shield and slit her throat without hesitation. He used her to cast a spell, which struck Hafter as he lunged."

Anders nodded to that, seeing the reason for the hound's injury that wouldn't heal. "I'm surprised he didn't fall then and there," he said.

"He did," Cat explained. "He just laid there conserving his energy until the very end. I thought he was dead." She kept going, telling of scooting along the floor, hearing the fight between Gascard and Hawke as she found both Hafter and then Olivia. She choked as she told of screaming, being unaware of how long she stayed there.

She couldn't tell them much of the fight, as she hadn't truly watched it. So she simply told them of how she found Hawke, wounded and panting.

She said nothing of their conversation to each other, telling only about hearing the fighting as she made her way back to Hafter, seeing the hound jump up at the last second to save her, and Hawke's use of Gascard's staff to end him.

"That's the last thing I remember," she finished, giving Hafter another rub, though she doubted he could feel it, asleep as he was.

The room was silent, as they each processed what they heard. Hawke clearing his throat was like an explosion against the quiet, and they all turned to him.

"You left a pretty big piece out," he admonished her.

She looked at him, shrugging. It wasn't her story to tell after all.

"While I won't go blow by blow, believe me when I say I was going to lose that fight," he stated, getting surprised looks by the others.

"We were evenly matched, but he had blood magic. We countered each others' spells, but it took all our strength to do so. There were several times when we simply didn't fight because we were both spent completely."

"So you stabbed him," Varric surmised.

"Not exactly," Hawke said, looking around. Cat could practically feel his vulnerability, and was sure that he was worried at least a little at how the others would react.

"While my spells wore him out, his blood magic gave him a spell that was damaging me. Internally. It would literally boil my blood inside my veins."

"Ew," Varric commented.

"Indeed," Hawke replied, a hint of a smirk on his lips. "Towards the end, the damage was great enough that I knew he would recuperate before I would, and would kill me easily."

The quiet went long enough that the crew grew agitated. "Then what happened?" Anders asked. "Obviously you weren't killed."

"Cat," Hawke replied. "Du Puis wouldn't let us get close enough for me to free her. So she proposed something else."

They looked back and forth between the two, growing more upset. "Just spit it out!" Isabela growled.

"Blood magic."

Cat wasn't surprised when Anders and Isabela scoffed, that Merrill looked somewhat excited, or that Fenris looked upset.

"I told him to take my energy from me, so he could win," she said. "We were desperate, I know, but please believe me when I say I couldn't think of anything else."

"There is ALWAYS something else Cat!" Anders boomed out, as he realized they weren't joking. "Blood magic is evil!"

"You performed blood magic?" Fenris asked from behind Hawke. Hawke turned his head, looking at him seriously, and nodded.

Cat wasn't sure if it was the honesty or something else, but Fenris merely nodded. "Do you plan to do so again? Become a blood mage?" he asked.

"No."

"Even to save someone's life again?" Fenris asked, and Hawke hesitated.

"Only as a last resort," he said. "But only to save another, never myself." Fenris considered this, and finally nodded.

The exchange wasn't lost on Anders, who looked over at Cat. "You truly asked him to?" he questioned.

"Begged, more like," she replied. "Apparently Gascard had gotten some strange idea that I had information about the city, because of my connection to Hawke." That wasn't true, but she knew Anders would understand what she was saying. "I begged Hawke not to die and leave me with Gascard."

Anders heaved another sigh. "Can we leave this place?" he asked. "I'd like to burn it down."

"That's the best idea I've heard all night," Hawke replied.

Cat smirked as Isabela insisted on carrying her, but after even a few steps, she realized she needed the help. There were worse things than a piggy back ride after all, she thought.

She did feel bad about making Isabela take her to Hightown, then come back to Lowtown, but she needn't have bothered, as the entire crew followed them to Hawke's estate. She supposed it showed how they felt about him, needing to see him home safely, though she was surprised to see Cullen standing at the front door, several templars around him.

"The Knight Captain had thought that Hawke was involved in the death of the templar Emeric," Fenris said quietly, though they could all hear him. "I told him that if he remained here, we would bring him the one responsible."

"Quite the gamble," Hawke said, being helped along by Merrill.

"I had to leave a proper escort with your mother," Fenris replied, and Cat almost giggled at Hawke's awed look.

Isabela helped her down to stand, staying with her to keep her upright as Fenris and Hawke spoke with the templars. Sebastian joined them, handing over the body of Gascard, along with his staff. The templars quickly gathered the body, and started back to the Gallows.

"Cat? I hope you weren't injured."

Cat lifted her head from Isabela's shoulder, opening her eyes to smile at Cullen. "Only a little, though I will be fine."

"Our little Kitty attracts all the wrong kinds," Isabela said to Cullen and Cat glared at her.

"Uh," Cullen said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm just glad you are all right," he said to Cat, ignoring Isabela's comment, as he couldn't think of a good response. "Can I see you home?" he asked her.

"I was going to stay with her tonight, but if you'd like to join us…" Isabela practically purred.

"Issy!" Cat hissed.

"Oh, uh…" Cat could see the blush on his cheeks as he rubbed at his neck again. "As long as you're not alone, that… that is good."

Isabela glanced between the two of them, then thought of Hawke. Sometimes she needed to push… she thought with a sly grin.

"If I might take you up on your offer Captain," she said with a sweet smile. "She is still unsteady on her feet, but I don't think I can carry her further. Would you mind?" she asked innocently, even as Cat gaped at her.

"Issy, Fenris can-"

"Now Kitty, the Captain offered!" she interrupted loudly. "I would hate myself if I caused you further harm by dropping you."

"You must be very strong to have carried her all this way," Cullen said, and Cat turned to glare at him.

"I'm not that heavy," she complained. "I'm not even wearing armor!"

"Then it would be no problem for such a strong man," Isabela cooed. "It would truly put my mind at ease Captain."

"Uh…"

"Anders," Sebastian said, as he rejoined them. "I have connections that I would like to use to get Olivia a proper funeral. I believe we can even have it at night so that no one else with be in attendance."

Anders looked at him in surprise. "You would do that?" he asked.

"Certainly. Olivia was a kind and gentle soul, and deserves to rest peacefully at the Maker's side."

"Thank you," Anders said, still shocked.

"I can take her, so that the initiates can prepare. Tomorrow evening we can have the pyre."

Anders passed her carefully to Sebastian. "This means so much…" he said emotionally.

"I will have everything ready," Sebastian said, as he took his leave.

"Choir boy can be full of surprises," Varric commented.

"No kidding," Anders replied.

"What's going on over there?" Hawke asked as he and Fenris came back out of the house. They turned to where he was looking, just as the Knight Captain stepped up close to Cat, his arm coming around her back, and she put her arms around his neck, as he lifted her into his arms.

"What the hell?!"