When it Rains, It Pours

Marian Hawke had never been a hateful soul. She didn't hold grudges or rush to violence. She had always been content to live and let live, so long as everyone could have a good laugh at the end. Now here she stood, shaking with unfettered rage, her mana burning inside of her, desperate to be released into flame.

"Where. Is. My. Mother." Her tone was low, even, and dripping with venom. The man in front of her smiled dreamily.

"Ah, but she is right here. Come say hello, Leandra." He gestured and from a chair behind him rose a stitched together bride. She slowly ambled to the man's side, her eyes milky with death, her skin drained of all color and life. But despite the beginnings of decay, she was unmistakably Leandra Hawke.

She heard Anders, Fenris, and Varric comment behind her, but their words had no form. Everything she was, everything she would ever be, was focused into a singular point of hatred and pain. She charged at the man, the monster that had defiled her mother, and slammed her body into him with an explosion of flame. He attempted to shield himself, but she would not permit it, instead taking her flaming hands and punching him with all her might and adrenaline. She heard nothing, saw nothing, only the boiling red rage in her soul as she punished the beast that had destroyed her Mother.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to attack the owner, but her fire reflected off of a , barrier, catching her off guard. She looked up to see that it was Anders. She was panting and raw, and now that the adrenaline rush had been interrupted, she felt intense pain in her hands.

"You killed him several hits ago. Go be with Leandra while you still can." He said softly, his hand still firm on her shoulder.

Marian gasped in realization and the sudden drop in her stomach as the anguish settled in. She forced herself up, shaking from the exertion of her overworked body, and went to Leandra, hugging her tightly. Leandra could not support her weight, and Marian couldn't support it either, so they slumped down onto the ground, Marian still embracing this unfamiliar body that bore her Mother's face.

"My little girl has become so strong." Leandra sighed softly next to her ear.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't protect you. I was investigating this man but...but there's always so much to do and I...I... Oh Andraste forgive me, I failed you." Her voice was shaking as she spoke softly.

"You didn't fail me. You have saved me, that awful man would have kept me here, but now I can be free. I can see your father again, and Bethany..."

Marian pulled back so she could look at her face, the unnatural light behind her milky gaze was fading.

"Anders! Is there anything you can do?! Please!" She turned her gaze to Anders, whose own eyes were red and wet.

"I'm so sorry, but no. She was bound to him and his blood magic." His voice was thick with emotion.

"I'm willing to do blood magic to save her!" Marian snapped at him, but Leandra put a weak hand on her cheek, drawing her attention back.

"No. It's too late for me darling. You must live, and be the mother to Elizabeth I always hoped I could be to you."

"I... I love you so much." Marian shuddered out, her voice cracking.

"I love you, Marian. You've always made me so proud..." Leandra sighed out softly, before her body went completely limp and the light of her eyes dimmed to eternal darkness.

It was in the moment that Marian finally broke and let out an anguished scream that led into heaving sobs. Fenris came forward and carefully untangled her from the hug she still held her Mother in, and as soon as her arms were free she collapsed into him. He put his arms around her and held her tightly as she sobbed against him, her body quaking with the intensity of her grief. He carefully adjusted so he could carry her in his arms. Standing from his crouched position while holding her. He looked over to Anders, who himself was crying quietly, his hand covering his eyes in an effort to hide his own grief at Leandra's loss.

"Take her home Fenris, I'll make sure things are taken care of here." Varric said softly, his usual jovial demeanor gone. Fenris gave a curt nod in response and carefully carried Marian out of the blighted hideaway, and up the stairs from Lowtown to Hightown. The one mercenary group that approached them were easily driven off by Fenris snarling and allowing his markings to flare brightly in the darkness. They arrived at the estate and Fenris kicked the door a couple times to knock and gain entry, his hands full with Marian, still shivering and crying. Bodahn opened the door, and it took him only a moment to realize what must've happened.

"Oh no... Please, bring her inside." He said gently, stepping aside to allow Fenris entrance. Orana and Sandal were nowhere to be seen, and Gamlen had returned home after interrogating the only witness to Leandra's abduction. "I stayed up, I was hoping... Well, I was hoping. Put her to bed, I'll write to her family. They... they need to know."

"Thank you, Bodahn." Fenris replied softly before carrying Marian up the stairs and into her room. He laid her down on the bed carefully and then sat on the edge, his hand resting on her leg, a reminder that he was here with her.

Nearly an hour had passed when Anders joined them in the bedroom, smelling of smoke and something acrid. Fenris vaguely recognized the smell from times that Danarius set a rival or disobedient slave ablaze.

"What did you do?" He asked calmly, though his gaze was firmly focused on the mage.

"Her funeral." He answered simply, looking away, his brows knit with pain.

Fenris simply nodded, then looked over to Marian. She had fallen asleep, the weakness of her body overtaking the pain of her heart.

"I want to stay here, be here for her and take care of Liz while she's in mourning." Anders spoke carefully.

"As do I. I do not care for you, you know this, but... but I do care for her. She'll need all the tenderness we can provide."

"So a truce, then?" Anders asked, his surprise poorly concealed.

"A truce." Fenris answered,

-

Marian slogged through life for the next few days, Barely leaving her bed, barely eating or drinking. She did try to spend time with Liz, but the little girl would ask for Grandma, and Marian would have to fight back tears as she handed her off to somebody else. She didn't want to share her pain with her child. She was too young to understand, and probably wouldn't remember Leandra in a few years time. It was better that she not go through the agony of this grief.

The men, for their part, were as good as their word, avoiding all arguments for Marian's sake. They helped her and spent time with Liz, keeping her happy and occupied. She loved her Dada and her "Fenwis" as she called him. Seeing her smile and play was the only thing that came close to lifting Marian's spirits, so Anders and Fenris made a point of making her giggle and jump for joy as much as possible.

Then one morning Aveline and Isabela came into the estate, both talking over eachother and yelling at one another. The commotion was enough to pull Marian from her fugue state to see what was going on.

"You need to help me, the Qunari have taken in murderers and refuse to hand them over. The Arishok is dangerously on edge, and if we don't intervene it will escalate further. Please Marian, he respects you, you might be the only one who would give him pause!" Aveline plead desperately.

"I'm going to die!" Isabela shouted, running up the stairs towards Marian. She blinked at her owlishly. "That got your attention! I finally have a solid lead on the relic, and if I don't get it back Castillon will kill me! I need your help, Hawke!"

"That's your own problem that you caused! The Qunari are the bigger threat!" Aveline shouted as she started followed Isabela up the stairs.

"Our problems are...related, actually." Isabela responded sheepishly.

"Isabela..." Marian croaked out, her inflection emotionless.

"The relic I stole was a qunari relic. They were chasing me when that big storm hit. It destroyed my ship and theirs. We were both stranded here, both searching for the relic."

"You bitch! Your selfishness has caused all of this! I should strangle you!" She growled.

"I'll...help Isabella. Maybe if we return this relic...the qunari will leave." Marian spoke slowly, any passion she might have had long gone.

"Thank you, Hawke."

"Fine, but I'm coming along to make sure it goes smoothly."

Marian gathered up Fenris to join them, and they went down to where this relic was supposedly being held.

-

"Okay, so maybe I do know more than I've let on. The relic was some fancy book. The Tome of Cousins or whatever." Isabela huffed, having been called out on yet another lie.

"The Tome of Koslun? The founder of their religion, their most sacred historical figure? No wonder they're angry." Fenris asked incredulously, shaking his head at the stupidity of it all.

"That doesn't matter now. Please, they should be just inside. Come on." Isabela ushered them to follow her.

A confusing and difficult battle passed as the Magister and her guards clashed with them, and the Qunari who were sent to retrieve the tome. Marian walked calmly through the fight, releasing waves of fire and ice around her, causing damage to both groups that were opposing her. Fenris observed that she looked entirely too peaceful. She was apathetic to the danger she was in, and didn't even flinch at the screams of those she killed around her. He felt ill seeing her so detached.

When the fight ended Aveline called for them to follow her outside, because Isabela had ran off. Not five paces from the door did they find the corpse of the man who'd had the tome, with a hastily written note on him.

=

Dear Hawke,

I have the relic, and I am gone. I've lost too much over this blighted thing to let it go again. I know it would be noble to return the relic to the Qunari, but that would require a better soul than I possess.

For what it's worth, I'm sorry I lied to you again.

Isabela

=

Aveline raged, and Fenris felt the betrayal gnaw at him as well, but refused to linger on the feeling as Marian put the letter into her pocket and made her way towards the Qunari Compound. They followed her, and were permitted entrance at the compound's gate. The three of them were brought before the Arishok.

"Serah Hawke. Why do you come here?" He snarled, glaring down at her.

"We're here because you're sheltering murderers! I brought Hawke with me because I hoped she could convince you."

"The viddathari were doing their duty, murdering a rapist who had harmed their sister. They have chosen the Qun, and I will not allow my people to be punished for doing their duty."

"They murdered one of my guardsmen!" Aveline shouted, her cheeks flushing with emotion.

"Then you are also shamed, for employing scum such as he." He snarled back. "As are you, Hawke. you worked with the thief that had trapped us here. You have killed my people despite your insistence on trying to befriend us. You should have allowed them to do their duty."

"I didn't know Isabela had stolen from you. I trusted her, and she tricked me."

"They did not deserve to pay for your gullibility with their lives." He snapped back at her. "How can you stand it? Living in all this corruption. The filth." He practically spat the word.

"I didn't choose to come here." She answered plainly, her expression and inflections still muted.

"But you choose to stay, and to participate in this degradation! Our paths only crossed because of greed. My duty is to the Qun. I have purpose," He stood from his throne and started down the stairs, continuing to speak, "I have sight where you are all blind. Until we retrieve the relic we are denied Par Vollen. It is not my duty to save this city, but I will do what is right; you should all be grateful!" He shouted, now within arm's reach of Hawke. his form towering over hers.

"I wish we could have come to a different conclusion. Farewell, Arishok." She responded softly, her eyes betraying the fear and regret that she was feeling now.

They left the compound and once in Lowtown, found that the Qunari had quickly spread through the city to lay siege, killing all who resisted them.

They ran to the Hanged Man to gather Varric, who had already armed himself when he heard the fighting. They filled him in on what was happening, and why, and then made their way through the streets.

-

Orsino and Meredith both crossed paths with them, and Marian organized their efforts to best effect, distracting and kiilling Qunari guards outside of the Viscount's keep so Marian and her team could sneak inside.

The Arishok stood like a mountain over the body of the Viscount, impressive and immovable.

"Hawke, I should have known you would come here. To fight through the city with so few at your side, you have my respect. But even bas-alit an cannot stand in the way of our purpose. Where is the Tome of Koslun?"

"Isabela escaped with it. I will find her, but I need time."

"Time is the one luxury you do not have, Hawke. You will submit, or you will die fighting."

Marian squared her shoulders, ready to test her abilities against him, when the door swung open, and Isabela sauntered in.

"No need for the dramatic. Here's your stupid book." She shoved it into the arms of the nearest guard, and he quickly brought it to the Arishok to inspect.

"Curious. I had not expected this outcome. We can now return to Par Vollen, with the thief."

"What?!" Isabela gasped out, grabbing her daggers and taking up her fighting stance.

"You have what you wanted, you don't need Isabela."

"Yes I do, Hawke. She is a threat to the Qunari, and an insult. It will not go unpunished."

"Then I'm afraid we'll have to fight after all." Marian said firmly.

"Wait!" Fenris interjected, "You could duel, with Isabela as the prize."

"You do not know us as well as you think, elf, if you think I would duel a female."

"No, not a female, a bas-alit an. A respected outsider, an equal." Fenris pushed.

"Very well." He sighed and drew his weapons, a heavy greatsword and greataxe.

"I agree to this duel." Marian stated calmly, then looked to Fenris. She spoke more quietly to him, "If I don't survive this, watch over Liz for me."

"You will survive, Hawke. But I will always watch over Liz." He set a gentle hand on her shoulder before she stepped into the open space to fight. She was weakened by her lack of care for herself these past few days since her big explosion of overuse. Her hands were still recovering from breaking against the bastard's skull. She had no faith that she would survive this battle, and couldn't find it in her heart to fear death. If it could buy peace and a safe future for Liz, that was enough.

Her attacks did little against the Arishok, and she found herself running around the space to avoid his powerful hits. But then suddenly he was in front of her, and stabbed his greatsword through her abdomen, lifting her up into the air on his blade. She could hear screams, but had no knowledge of if they were from the audience or herself. Everything went calm as her body went into shock. She looked down at the Arishok's face, her blood dripping down onto it. She could feel the blade slide further into her as gravity brought her closer to her opponent. She watched her blood leave her body with foreign fascination, as if the concept of bleeding was entirely new to her. Her vision was beginning to blur at the edges, and she was almost ready to accept her fate when she heard Fenris yell at her, his voice distant and surreal.

"Elizabeth needs you! Please, Marian, fight!"

She saw Elizabeth, older than she was now, staring at the portrait of the Hawke women and weeping for never having known her family. That lit the spark inside of her, and she pulled on all the energy she could feel moving through her and out of her, and instinctively grabbed at the Arishok's horns, and with a great force she had never known she could possess, ripped his head in half. His body collapsed, taking her down with him. She slammed to the ground and that shifted the sword's position inside her, pulling another scream that she was now certain were her own. But now that she was here, she found the marble tiles warm and comfortable. She felt compelled to sleep, and as her vision faded to black, she allowed herself to finally rest.