"I'm sorry Isabela. We've tried everything we can think of."

Isabela looked at the dejected look on the handsome elf's face. "I know Danric, don't worry about it. Even being able to eliminate areas and people are a help, believe me."

"But it's been four days, and we have no idea where she is!" he burst out, then immediately became depressed again. "This is all my fault, for going along with that insane idea to help Farrah," he mumbled.

"If not you then someone else," Isabela said quietly, shaking her head. She knew Hawke had heard the outburst, but there was no sense beating up Danric for it. "No one lets Kitty do anything, she'll do whatever she wants. Besides, if you hadn't, who knows what would have happened to Farrah?"

"Not that she's grateful," he grouched. "Stupid girl always bit off more than she could handle." He looked up, his expression burning with indignation. "The very least she could do is help with the search, but no! She just ran away!"

"I'm sure she was traumatized," Isabela said, internally wishing she could be back out there searching, cursing these infernal meetings for rest. She could tell the others felt the same by the restless actions they were making, unable to sit still- except for Hawke that is.

"That's what I thought too, but she wasn't home when I went to insist she help. I think she left the city."

Isabela was going to make light of it, but remembered just in time that the girl was like family to Danric. "I'm sorry," she said lamely.

He sighed, and stood. "We'll send word if we find anything," he said, turning and walking out of the Hanged Man.

Isabela stood also, taking her drink over to Hawke's table, and listened without interrupting- very unlike her- and wished again they would find Kitty so things could get back to normal.

"This is a bad idea," Anders was arguing in low tones, and Isabela focused on the conversation. "Adrius can't be seen, he's supposed to be dead!"

"Look, I didn't go to ask him to help, I was only thinking that he may know an apostate that we didn't," Aveline said again with a sigh. "He's the one that volunteered, and while it may be risky, I think we can pull it off."

"Risky?!" Anders gaped in disbelief.

Aveline leaned forward, her face like stone. "You think I don't know the risks?" she said lowly. "If he's caught, more than likely we'll all be arrested, if not put to death for harboring an apostate, especially one that was slated to be made tranquil."

"Keep your voice down!" Anders hissed.

"We've narrowed the search to Lowtown, but that is still a very large area. One more team out there could mean the difference between life and death for Cat," Aveline stated firmly. "True, we could have teams without mages, but if they were compromised, we'd have no way of knowing, and lose more people."

"What about the templars that are helping?" Varric asked in concern.

"We can't let them know," Hawke replied. "Cullen may be a friend to Cat, but he is a templar at the core. If he sees Adrius, he'll report us to the Knight Commander."

Aveline nodded. "So we send them out first, before Adrius is there," she said calmly. We act as if Merrill will be staying behind again."

They all looked around the table at each other, and though several didn't like it, they knew it was a better plan than they had previously. They all wanted to find Cat, and soon.

Cat wondered what had happened, but it was obvious that something had. The tension in the air was more stifling than the bag over her head. Even though sounds were muffled, she could tell that something was happening in front of her, and it put her on edge.

A scream ripped through the hood, and reverberated in her head. She reared back, knowing how loud it had to have been in order to be so loud to her, and her breathing started quickening as she wondered what was happening.

She could hear what sounded like someone speaking, crying, but it was so muted that she couldn't understand it.

She told herself to stop, to think. Obviously, they were trying deceive her. If they were really hurting someone, they would pull the hood off and make her watch. She pulled a wall around her heart as best she could, telling herself over and over again that it was a farce.

Hours passed, and Cat ignored everything. Liquid hit her, and she hardly noticed. She mentally congratulated Castillon for knowing how to play such elaborate mind games. The sounds that she could make out tore at her, and she struggled to remain impassive.

She counted her breaths to keep her breathing steady. And she told herself that she wouldn't fall victim to their sadistic games… Even when she could swear she heard her own name being screeched.

Finally… finally, it stopped. She was lowered to the ground, and left there. Hearing nothing was suddenly a blessing, and she laid there panting, wishing for her rescue.

Cullen could tell that something was wrong, but he told himself that it was merely the stress of the situation. We have to find her soon… he thought again. None of us can continue like this.

He listened to the Guard Captain, and gave a nod when given his orders. His men would finish the search near the foundries of Lowtown, which made sense since his group was the largest at six men. He could leave a couple of men outside while the others searched the foundries, in case any tried to escape.

He brought his fist to his chest. "If Cat is there, we will find her," he said seriously.

"Thank you Knight Captain," Aveline replied, giving him a nod. He returned the nod, and turned, his men following him out.

There was silence as they left, and Cullen wondered what that was about, though obviously there was something they wanted to say without the templars around. Some things never change… Cullen thought as he strode away. No matter the good the templars do, they are always seen as the enemy.

Hawke waited as he watched the Knight Captain and his templars leave the Hightown market. Everyone moved without sound, and within moments a hooded figure was next to Aveline.

"Thank you for this Adrius," he said softly. "I am in your debt."

"No friend, I am merely glad to repay the one I owe to you," Adrius replied. "Now, let us find Catarina and end this nightmare."

"Stay behind Aveline if anyone approaches, she'll help keep you hidden," Hawke cautioned. "Everyone? Let's go."

"Remember to shoot the colors high," Aveline repeated. "It would be better if we were closer, but we're less likely to run into anyone that would recognize our friend here. And Merill… keep your face covered."

They nodded, Merrill pulling the hood of her cloak closer around her face, and Hawke led the group away from his home, and started toward Lowtown.

Any that were in their path suddenly found more important places to be, as the group marched through the city. They were a formidable group, loaded with weapons, and looking ready to serve up death at every hand.

They got to the staircase leading down to Lowtown when Hawke finally spoke. "We're going to the edge of the docks," he stated. "Varric, you, Sebastian and Merrill head to the left, and circle around to meet us." The three of them nodded in response and Hawke turned to his right.

"Fenris, Anders and Zevran, you take the right, but avoid the foundries… obviously," for a moment his smirk was back, but then it disappeared. "If we still don't find anything, we'll spread out and come up through the center of town, questioning everyone on our way."

His face was fierce in the low light, the shadows creating a wicked expression. "She's here," he murmured. "We find her… tonight."

Hours later, the groups met in the alienage, the disappointment clear on their faces.

"I don't understand," Fenris grumbled. "We know she is here… what are we missing?!"

"A secret place, like that necromancer had?" Varric suggested. "If so, how we will ever find it?"

"There's one way," Isabela said, looking at Hawke, who shook his head immediately.

"Hawke, this is our only chance!" she said stubbornly.

"What good will getting captured do?!" he retorted.

"Wait, what's going on?" Varric asked.

The two of them glared at each other, and finally Isabela spoke. "I have an idea-"

"A stupid idea," Hawke interrupted.

"Cousin…" Charade admonished.

"Let's hear the idea before we decide," Zevran suggested.

"Isabela figures they'll want her, so if she goes out on the streets searching alone, they'll come after her," Hawke snapped.

The noise rose, as they are started speaking at once, arguing for or against. Finally Isabela shouted, "SHUT IT!"

And miraculously… they did.

"Look," she continued. "We've done what we can. I'm suggesting that I get caught, on purpose…" she glared at Hawke, "so that you then can follow me to their hideout."

"That… could actually work," Zevran said thoughtfully.

"No!" Hawke said stubbornly. "All that will happen is that we'll have another of our crew missing!" He shrank a little as he put his head in his hands. "I… can't! I can't…" he mumbled.

"Even if I am caught, I can leave a trail," Isabela said, trying to be gentle. "They won't kill me, that would be too easy. They want me to suffer."

"So, what?" Fenris asked. "They'll just kill Cat to punish you? How is that better?!"

"Look, we don't have a lot of options here!" Isabela shouted.

Charade stepped forward, looking Isabela in the eyes, trying to pierce through the excess. "Will they truly come after you?" she asked softly, and the tone of her voice had everyone else quieting down in order to understand.

"I think so," she replied.

Charade nodded, looking back to Hawke. "You're certain… they won't hurt you?"

Isabela looked away, but brought her gaze back after a moment. "Nothing is certain," she said, her voice eerily calm. "But I truly believe this to be the best option. I don't think they'll kill me, or Kitty, at least not immediately."

She glanced over to Hawke as well. "In fact, I don't think Castillon plans to kill Kitty at all."

"Just you then," Hawke said, staring blankly at her.

"Just me," she replied with a nod.

They stood like that for another moment, until Charade brought her face back around to face her own. "Can we have people watching out? Or will that give you away?"

Isabela went to shake her head, but thought it over. She eyed her companions wearily, but decided it couldn't hurt, and gave a nod.

"Anders, Varric and Merrill will be able to blend, but that's it." She held up a hand at the arguments that sprang forth. "Hawke, you're too recognizable, there's no way. Fenris and Zev, you look like warriors, you won't blend in here."

"There are plenty of mercenaries here in Lowtown," Fenris argued stubbornly.

"None that are dangerous looking elves, or have distinctive tattoos," she retorted.

"The dwarf is even more recognizable," Zevran complained.

"Yes, but he's trusted here, in certain areas anyway," Isabela replied. "Look, the idea is to switch up the tail. Varric in the central areas, near the Hanged Man, no one will question his presence. Merrill near the alienage, same reason, and Anders after that."

Anders crossed his arms and scowled. "So I'll blend in in the seedy areas, is that what you're saying?" he asked.

Isabela smirked. "If the robes fit…" she suggested.

"And what?" Hawke asked, still upset. "Then someone else is taken as well?"

"No, they will have the location where I was taken, and call in the rest of you," Isabela said, feeling more secure as the plan formed in her mind. "And you'll follow the trail I'll leave."

"Who says you'll even be able to leave a trail?" Hawke glowered.

"I do," Isabela replied, determined.

"I don't like it," Hawke said, and Isabela sighed at his stubbornness.

"You don't have to like it Hawke, but this is happening."

"Perhaps the teams can go with the lookout?" Charade asked, trying to find a compromise. "And stay hidden, but then they will be much closer, and able to pursue you right away?"

Hawke was silent for another moment, but eventually turned to Isabela. "That sounds doable," he relented.

"You all can work out the kinks," she replied, getting up, and pulling out a blade. "I'll walk over to the foundries and check on our boys in armor, give you time to get in place, then I'll head to the alienage," she said, giving Merrill a nod.

She glanced back to Hawke, and he could see the steely look in her eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes to get her back," she said, and walked out the door.

"Yes, that's why I'm worried," he mumbled in reply.

A sharp kick to the stomach woke Cat and she coughed harshly, wincing at the pain. She wondered how long she had been able to sleep that time, but gave up quickly at actually determining the length of time. She had long since lost her sense of the passage of time while wearing the hood.

She didn't bother to open her eyes, since it would be dark anyway, but she usually tried to move before getting kicked again. However, this time, her body wasn't responding to her will, and she wondered idly why another kick would bother her so much. Right now, she simply didn't care.

Her arms jerked upward, and she suddenly scrambled to get her legs under her. Being pulled to her feet by her wrists was a pain she never wanted to have again, as it had felt as if her arms were tearing out from their sockets.

Panting, exhausted, she finally got to her feet, though her limbs felt heavy, and her head hung to her chest. She struggled to keep coherent thoughts, wanting to just let go and finally sleep.

The slap brought her around, mentally as well as physically. She raised her head slowly, telling herself that she could not afford to have such thoughts. I'm stronger than this… they are coming… just hold on… she continued to tell herself, raising her spirits.

Then, the hood was suddenly pulled from her head, and she stumbled. Her eyes blinked open, and her tongue ran over her cracked lips. She continued to blink, trying to get her eyesight to focus, as at the moment all she could see was a few spots of light, with shadows in between them.

She was slapped again, and it caused the buzzing in her ears to clear, even as her vision began to focus.

"- be worse, but she's still alive, which is more than I can say will happen to you."

Cat shivered, the voice sounding as one from her nightmares. Another voice was speaking, and she turned to it, shaking her head and trying to listen.

"-itty! Can you… me? K-y?"

Cat blinked rapidly, and she squinted her eyes, not truly believing what her mind was telling her, but it didn't stop her heart from swelling.

"I-" her voice cracked, and yet she kept trying. "Is?" she managed to get out before a coughing fit racked her.

"Kitty!"

Cat got her breath back, and looked back up, almost believing that Isabela would have disappeared. "Is…sy?" she croaked.

"Yes! Are you all right?" she asked, still straining against Velasco. Cat blinked again, and tilted her head as she looked at her friend.

"I'n… fide.." she said, her eyes heavy, trying to stay focused.

"Is that blood yours? CAT!" Isabela snapped, trying to keep her own hysteria at bay until she could ascertain her friend's condition. She had to buy more time, until someone barged through the door behind her.

Cat gave a confused look, frowning. "You… no call me… 'less mad," Cat mumbled. "Are you… mad?" she asked, her eyes still blinking, but Isabela could tell that she was becoming more aware.

"Yes!" Isabela said, sounding desperate in order to keep Velasco entertained. "How could you get caught like this?!" she shouted. "How could you be standing there with no clothes on?!"

"Oh, I guess… I'm not so shy now," Cat said with a snort, followed by more coughing that seemed to rack her whole body, and Isabela grimaced, but inwardly she cheered. Her Kitty was still there. She hadn't been shattered, just cracked a little.

"Then Charade and I will have to invite you out with us, the next time," Isabela replied, the pit in her stomach that had been so empty was now filling- with anger, with the need for vengeance, as Cat huffed and her head hung back down in exhaustion.

"Don't worry, Kitty," Isabela said, hearing footsteps behind them. "I'll have someone cover you up."

She was pushed forward, and she turned into a crouch to keep from falling. She smiled wickedly at the scene of thorny vies wrapping around Velasco, the men that had escorted them in the room were already dead, arrows and bolts in vital organs to prevent unnecessary noise. She stood slowly, walking back to face Velasco who was writhing in pain. Her face becoming blank as she pulled out a small blade.

"You have one chance to have an painless death, by telling me what you did to her," she said without emotion. She gave a nod to Merrill, who didn't let Velasco free, but lowered the vines from his head.

He panted, and twitched, the movement of the large thorns digging into his skin all over his body. He stopped, giving Isabela a wink. "I am a scar she will wear forever," he said, his smile spreading over his face. "And Castillon will kill you."

"Oh, I don't think so," Isabela said with a smirk. "You never were very bright. Because catching me, was actually a trap, bringing all of the Champion's friends down on you and Castillon." She smiled brightly at his stormy expression.

Then she leaned forward, and pushed her blade slowly through his throat, watching without comment as he died, choking on his last breath.

"That was practically merciful, compared to what Hawke would have done," she murmured over his body, then turned back to Cat, not giving him another thought.

"Kitty?" she asked, running over to where Sebastian and Varric were already helping her to the ground, Sebastian already wrapping her in his cloak as he lowered her.

"Is this blood hers?" Varric asked quietly, holding a cloth to her wrist that had started bleeding once they removed the ropes.

"I found a finger," Merrill said as she walked over, carrying the finger out in front of her. Isabela quickly looked over Cat's hands in worry, but found all ten fingers where they should be.

"It's not hers," Isabela said with relief.

"Oh," Merrill replied, looking at the finger now in disgust. She moved away and set it down, then came back, wiping her hands on her armor.

"Daisy, can you do anything?" Varric asked.

"I'm not very good at healing spells," she said, getting close to take a look at her friend. "Normally I can put the person under a sleep spell, which helps until we find a proper healer."

"Good, do that then," Isabela said.

"Uh.." Merrill hesitated, flinching back from Isabela's stern glare. "It's just that… her breathing is really shallow," she explained. "I think we need to get her to a healer, very soon. Like now."

Isabela looked at Varric, then Sebastian, and nodded. Sebastian stood, picking up Cat in his arms, gentling his hold as she cried out in pain.

"Daisy, go with Choir-boy."

"What? Varric, aren't you coming with us?"

The dwarf looked over to Isabela, shaking his head. "We haven't found Castillon," he said quietly. "I'm going to help Rivaini stop all this from happening again," he said, "you and Choir-boy need to get our little dove to a healer."

"All right," she said hesitating. "What's the signal for the others to come?" she asked. "I can set it off as we leave, and we'll leave a trail for them to follow."

"Good thinking," Varric said with a smile. "Two shots of red," he told her.

"But wait, we could just wait for Anders and Hawke to come at the exit," Merrill said, her head tilting in confusion.

Isabela shook her head. "We have no idea how long that will take. But you can get her back to Hawke's place in time. Adrius is there, as well as a supply of lyrium if he needs it."

She glanced back around the room at the pools of blood and piss, and who knew what else. "I don't want Kitty anywhere near this place. And… I think I'm going to need Hawke to finish this."

"Let's go Merrill," Sebastian said, heading for the door. "Maker go with you," he said to the two they were leaving behind.

Isabela glanced back with a nod. "Just get her out," she murmured to herself, though Varric could hear her. "The Maker has abandoned this place."

Eyes shot towards the sky seeing the shooting missile of red light up the sky. Aveline held her breath, conversation stopping as others followed where she was looking, seeing as the second missile rose to predate the first.

"What does that mean?" Adrius asked lowly from beside her.

"It's the signal for all others to come immediately, so they found something. Whether that is Cat, or where she is being held, I don't know." She frowned at the sky. "There were no other warnings, so something must have happened."

"Like what?" he asked, surprised.

She scratched her cheek thoughtfully. "Well, it could be a number of things, but my guess is that they stumbled onto the hideout and had a huge fight on their hands, and needed back up." She was silent for a moment before continuing. "Or… they found Cat… or someone needs a healer."

"I thought that needing a healer was another code," he pointed out, having been told that at least, so he could watch for it.

"True," she said, her anxiety level balancing again. "I guess we'll have to wait and see." She moved away from him then, giving orders for patrols in Lowtown, in case Hawke needed help.

Cullen saw the shooting lights, unsure of what they meant. He knew they were using colored signals in the sky to communicate, but since he didn't have a mage with his group, he wasn't privy to the meanings of them.

I don't need a mage to see the things, now do I? he grumbled to himself. He told himself to calm down, that he was only upset because there wasn't a single shred of evidence that Cat was being held anywhere near the foundries. He and his men were exhausted, and they were heading back to report and then return to the templar barracks.

As they crossed into Hightown, he saw the patrols heading the opposite direction, and stopped the lieutenant to question them.

Finding out that they were headed into Lowtown to give the Champion back up if he ended up needing it, had Cullen nodding. It was a smart move of the Guard Captain, and got the men feeling as if they were a part of the capture as well as the search.

He turned to his own men. "It sounds as if we are at the conclusion of things men," he said with a small smile. "I cannot put into words my appreciation for what you have done for me." He gave them a salute, and they returned it.

"I'll go ahead and report in. You've had a long night, and most of you are on duty tomorrow. You're dismissed," he said with a genuine smile, hearing the gratitude they gave him in return. He started back towards the Champion's home.

"Uh, Captain!"

He turned back, seeing one of the newer templar knights rushing to meet him. "Yes, recruit Lysette?" he asked.

"I'd like to finish it, Sir," she said with a salute. "I don't know that I can sleep otherwise."

He nodded, knowing how that felt. "Very well then, feel free to accompany me," he offered, and she fell into line behind him.

"Yes sir!"

He admitted to himself that it felt strange leading a patrol of one, but supposed that it was late enough that hardly anyone would see, and would doubtfully comment on it. He strode into the courtyard without preamble, and stopped short at the feeling of magic.

"What's going on, Sir?" Recruit Lysette asked from behind him.

"Can you feel it?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, sir, it's magic," she replied.

"Stay on your guard," he said, leading them closer.

He saw Aveline leaning over someone, and he called out, "Guard Captain?"

She turned, startled, and he thought it strange that he saw fear on her face as she rushed over to intercept him.

"I'm sorry Knight Captain, but Sebastian brought Cat back in a hurry, and she was badly injured. We had to get her stable before taking her into the house," she said hurriedly.

"I hope you don't take offense to my brusqueness, but I want to make sure she is taken care of," she continued, and Cullen nodded slowly, still feeling as if something was off.

He watched as she hurried away, the prince from Starkhaven picking up a bundled person that must have been Cat, and the hooded figure that was undoubtedly the elven mage going quickly into the Champion's home.

He moved forward, wanting to see her, but stopped himself as he reached the front door. His hand was outstretched as if to enter, but he knew he wouldn't be welcomed. By Cat, perhaps, but not the others. They would take his help, but he wasn't one of them.

"Oh, um, pardon me, please."

Cullen stepped back, getting out of the person's way. "My apologies," he said automatically.

"No problem," the person was covered by a hooded cloak, and moved to the door.

"Wait," he blurted out, and the figure stopped, waiting. "Can… can you let Cat know that she need only send for me, and I will come to visit?" he asked. "I'll worry until I see her for myself."

The hooded person sighed, though Cullen thought it sounded more wistful than upset. Then her head turned back, and gave him a nod. "I'll relay the message," she said, and disappeared inside.

Cullen stood where he was, his mind trying to process what he had just seen.

"Um, Captain?"

He turned, and started walking away. "Yes recruit?" he asked.

"That was the elven mage," she pointed out, and he suddenly cursed himself for bringing her along.

"Was it?" he asked coldly. "I couldn't tell," he said.

Lysette hadn't become a knight recruit at her young age for being slow, and she held her tongue, following the Knight Captain back to the Gallows. But all the way she wondered. If that was the elven mage… who was the mage with the Guard Captain?

Castillon smiled, ever the gracious host. "My men are gone it seems," he said with a shrug. "Well played Isabela," he said. "Well played."

"And now you want to talk?" Isabela asked, knowing that Hawke was waiting to rip into the man.

"There is little else I can do now, no?" he countered.

"Well," she said giving him a smirk. "How the mighty have fallen. Oh, and what's this?" she asked, pulling several papers from the front of her shirt. "What interesting reading…" she gave a tsking sound as she moved back and forth in front of him.

"Why, these documents prove that you have been, and are planning to market slaves here in the Free Marches! They're not going to like that…"

"Get to the point," he said, his calm veneer cracking.

"Give me your ship, and your word to leave me and everyone I know alone, and you can take the papers and go."

Hawke stepped forward, grabbing her arm. "You want the bloody ship, it's about to have no owner, so you can have it."

"Hawke, you don't just kill a man and take his ship," she said, surprised. "That's crude and amateurish." She looked back to Castillon with a glare. "How will he tell everyone we bested him, if he's dead?"

"How could you possibly trust him?" Hawke snapped.

"Castillon is a business man, and this is a business deal," she replied, glancing at him. "Just like I told you before."

"That's really what you want?" Hawke asked, looking at her as if he didn't know her. "This piece of scum, doing to others what he did to us?"

She glanced at him again, then turned, considering Castillon. "You always know what to say, Hawke."

He looked at her, his eyebrow up, questioning, and she nodded. "You win, again," she said, turning away.

"Isabela, wait," Castillon said as she walked away from him. "I have more to offer-" he started but she turned on her heel, holding up her hand.

"No," she said, shaking her head at him slowly. "You should never have touched her," she told him. "Everything else, I could have overlooked, but not that."

She turned again, walking away past Hawke, where she told him, "he's all yours."

Hawke nodded, and raised his staff. He gave a small wave of his staff, and a few words, and a spell hit Castillon in the chest, almost knocking him over. He stood straight, glancing down at himself as if he could wipe away what had hit him, but he saw nothing.

"This spell was perfect for you," Hawke said, unmoving as he stood several yards away from the other man. "You aren't one for violence, correct? You prefer to hurt someone inside."

Hawke nodded, and gave the man a shrug. "I merely returned the favor," he said.

Castillon looked from face to face, the women had left but there were still two men, two elves and a dwarf that were looking at him as one would an insect. "What…" his voice cracked and he started over. "What did you do to me?" he asked.

"You're now a walking bomb," Hawke said, and Castillon looked down at his chest again. "Any moment now…"

Castillon froze as he felt something, and within seconds, his body exploded outward into pieces.

The other four fighters had each hoped to kill the man, but all in all were glad that it was over. They turned and left, and one by one climbed the hidden staircase to a hovel in Lowtown. Anders was the last one out, and he threw a fireball at the pile of bodies, before climbing the stairs.

"I'm glad I didn't see my dove in that hell hole," Zevran commented as they walked away. "I do not know that I would have been able to stay my hand."

"I didn't," Isabela told him. "Though I would have liked to have tortured Velasco for every pain he gave her, I had to get her out of there."

"You're sure she's all right?" Hawke asked again.

"Choir-Boy and Daisy took her to Aveline," Varric repeated yet again. "Don't worry Hawke, even if Adrius can't heal her, Aveline knows where your store of potions are. As well as your mother and Bodahn."

"That's true," Hawke said. "But I won't be satisfied until I see her myself."

"Just go ahead," Isabela waved him onward. "I'm too tired to keep up with you, and I don't want to hold you back."

"You sure?" he asked, though he looked like he was ready to run off.

"Fenris, you can go with him, can't you?" she asked, and the elf nodded. "Then go," she said again.

Hawke nodded gratefully, and took off running, Fenris at his side.

"How does he even have the energy?" Varric asked with a sigh as the others slowed their pace.

"It must be love," Charade said with a smile.

"Since Hawke is no longer here," Zevran spoke up, "I want to hear exactly what you saw."

"I agree," Anders said.

"Why?" Isabela said, frowning. "The people who did it are dead, we should just forget all about it."

Zevran shook his head, looking over at her. "You know that is not how torture works. You've been around enough victims to know that it does not just go away. If we can figure out what they did, I hope to help my dove come to terms with it."

Isabela sighed, but knew that Zevran would pester her until he got his way. And most likely Varric would tell him anyway. This way, she could get it out as well.

She started with the room, explaining how small and cramped it was, how it was essentially sound proof due to the other rooms around it, and being underground. She told of the conditions, the lack of a bathroom, the rope holding her up. She continued with the blood everywhere, the finger they found, and eventually the body of the young elf, Farrah, that had been cut to pieces.

Then she spoke of Cat herself, and had to stop. Varric continued, concisely, as if reporting on the weather, and she envied his ability to keep his emotions out of it as he concluded with their deduction that the girl had been tortured in front of Cat, and the blood had been hers, since they couldn't find any wounds on Cat.

By the time they had finished, they were walking through the Hightown courtyard towards Hawke's home. Before they entered, Zevran stopped them.

"The important thing here, is letting my dove go at her own pace," he told them. "One step at a time. Act naturally, but do not act as though nothing has happened," he cautioned. "As with any other injury, it must be healed, and will take time."