The next morning, Fenris awoke in Elizabeth's bed. Her smell was everywhere, filling him with a certain warmth despite how chilled he felt. He could hear her voice, soft and sweet, probably the only sound that would not worsen his headache. He didn't try to force his eyes to open, nor did he move. He simply listened to her voice. She was reading, or perhaps she was reciting, poetry. He listened, not catching all of the words but the point was clear. He allowed himself to relax, his head lolling to the side. "Love me or hate me, I'll stay by your side. Even through all the tears I've cried. My walls have crumbled, though I have not died. But please forever, be by my side..." He heard her sigh, and his heart pounded against his chest. He moved his hand toward where he felt her sitting on the side of the bed, fingertips grazing her hand. Elizabeth gasped and turned her head, seeing he was awake though his eyes were still closed. "Fenris? How are you feeling?"

"Better, hearing your voice." Fenris coughed, wincing slightly.

Elizabeth felt his forehead. "You're convincing no one." She sighed. "Your fever is still high, Fenris." She shook her head. "I don't know what else to do. Your cold should have passed by now."

Fenris tried to sit up but felt Elizabeth's hands pressing him down. "Hawke..."

"Don't 'Hawke' me. I am sick of dealing with stubborn people. Why do I pick the stubborn ones to actually give a rat's ass about?"

Fenris looked at her blankly, unsure if the tears shining in her eyes were for him, or Carver. He sighed. "What would you have me do?"

Elizabeth was taken aback, but took the oppurtunity. "I would have you admit when you need help, dammit. You're not invincible, and pushing yourself to appear as such will be the death of you." She looked away. "I told you I cared for you. You're trying your best to make me regret that."

Fenris closed his eyes, realizing the weight of what she'd just said. He felt her weight lift off the bed, her hands leave his shoulders. "Hawke," he knew she either didn't hear him or ignored him, "Liz," he said louder. He heard her feet stop moving, felt her gaze turn back to him. "Please, stay."

Elizabeth came back and sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at the too pale elf. She gently moved his bangs from his face. "Yes?"

Fenris was silent for a bit, breathing raggedly. Elizabeth could hear rattling from his chest, and knew his cold had gotten much worse. "What was the poem you were saying earlier?"

Elizabeth closed her eyes. "It was a song, actually. I cannot sing as well as Father, but I remember the words."

"Sing it," Fenris coughed, then was silent for a few seconds, "please."

Elizabeth nodded, tears forming in her eyes. She took a breath and remembered the tune, then sang the words. Fenris found himself bewitched by her voice, having never heard something so beautiful in his life. When it was over, he smiled softly. He felt a cool cloth being laid over his head and, though the initial shock was painful, he realized it felt good. A cool hand touched his cheek. "Sleep, Fenris."

Though he was about to fall asleep anyway, Fenris forced himself awake. "I have slept." He forced his eyes open to see Elizabeth staring at him, worry etched in her face.

Elizabeth smiled slightly. "You're so stubborn." She laid a gentle kiss on his lips, lingering for a moment then withdrawing. She slid one of her hands under his neck, cradling his head gently and lifting it up as she pressed a cup to his lips. The steam unclogged his nose and he smelled the tea he'd been drinking, with something else he could not place. He sipped and realized one of the candies had been melted into the tea. His throat soothed and he sighed with relief. Slowly, he drifted off to sleep again.

It seemed like an age before Fenris awoke again. He felt a presence near him, though it was not Elizabeth's. He opened his eyes to see Leandra in a chair near the bed. "Where's...?"

"Lizzy went with Varric, Aveline, and Anders to find the Viscount's son. Apparently, he decided to convert to the Qun, but wasn't at the compound when they got there."

"She...told you this?" Fenris found it hard to believe that Elizabeth would tell her mother such important details.

Leandra smiled. "My daughter is not the only one in Kirkwall who can get answers." She stood. "Now that you're up, you might go find her before night falls. That is, if you feel up to it."

Fenris took this as a sign and sat up immediately, donning his armor despite the lightheadedness that threatened to overwhelm him. "Thank-you, Leandra. You are a good woman. Hawke is fortunate to have you as a mother." He grabbed his sword and left, going toward the Docks. He found the group as they were about to leave, shocking them to say the least.

Elizabeth's eyes widened. "Fenris, I-"

"Seamus wasn't there, was he?"

"No...someone sent a letter for him to meet the Viscount at the Chantry tonight. How did you know?"

Anders stepped up. "Yes, how did you know?"

Fenris shook his head. "I heard it from someone. Patrice likely sent that letter, not his father."

Elizabeth nodded. "Then we should hurry, before that bitch does something rash." She narrowed her eyes. "Are you up to it?"

Fenris nodded. "I am well and able."

Elizabeth shrugged. "Then take Aveline's place. I'm sure she has matters of her own to attend to."

Aveline nodded and left, leaving Fenris with the group. Elizabeth smiled softly before leading them on to the Chantry.

By the time they made it, the sun was starting to set. Elizabeth squatted on the side of the steps and waited, thinking of a plan. Fenris sneezed, staggering slightly. Clearly, he was not recovered. She sighed. "Fenris..." She shook her head. "Never mind. Let's go in." She opened the doors and walked in, seeing Seamus kneeling beside the pulpit. She went over to him, having a sinking feeling in her gut, and knelt beside him. He fell over, already dead. She sighed, shaking her head.

Mother Patrice and a righteous mob came in, attempting to blame Elizabeth for Seamus's death. She easily deflected the blame and launched into battle, noticing that Mother Patrice conveniently left. After the battle, Mother Patrice and the Grand Cleric came down the stairs to where the group was, Patrice already spouting lies. Elizabeth stepped forward, putting her staff on her back. "Forgive me, Grand Cleric, but you must know the truth." She then told her of how Seamus was killed in her name, and Patrice all but confessed. The Grand Cleric sighed, looking at each person in turn. "The Chantry respects the law, and so must she." She turned and went back up the stairs. Patrice was silent in shock before being shot in the chest by an arrow, then in the head. Elizabeth turned and saw a Quinari in the shadows.

"We do not abandon our own."

Fenris nodded and said something in their language, to which the Quinari grunted. The Grand Cleric requested that Viscout Dumar be sent for. Anders went to fetch the Viscount. Fenris started coughing, doubling over. Elizabeth went to his side, touching his back. The Quinari stepped up. "Serah Hawke. This elf would have you believe all is well, but it is not so." Elizabeth gave the Quinari her undivided attention. The Quinari looked down at Fenris as he struggled to catch his breath. Even Varric had come over and was looking at Fenris worridly. The Quinari continued. "We have seen this illness. It is of Tevinter origin." He pulled a small pouch out of a pack slung over his side. "He will want to drink this, or the elf will die."

Elizabeth gasped as she took the pouch, not even getting the chance to thank the Quinari before he had left. She grabbed a goblet from the alter to the Maker and snapped her fingers, filling it with water. She emptied the pouch into it and brought fire into her hands, boiling the water. She let it cool a bit and turned back to Fenris, who had submitted to Varric's insistance that he sit down. She tipped it to his lips. "No questions. Just drink."

Fenris nodded without opening his eyes and parted his lips, letting Elizabeth pour the liquid into his mouth as he swallowed. The taste was horrid, yet the soothing that came from it was remarkable. He sighed in relief. "Thank-you," he whispered.

Elizabeth nodded and helped him stand just as Anders returned with the Viscount. She sighed. "Let's call it a night, shall we?"

Varric nodded. "Sure, meet you at the Hanged Man later. By my count, Blondie's buying."

Elizabeth laughed softly. "Yeah that sounds about right." She gave the Viscount her condolences before leaving, returning to her home. She walked in to see Gamlen standing there, arguing with Sandal.

"No, not Enchantment! Leandra. Lee-an-drah!"

Elizabeth shook her head. "What's going on here?"

"Ah, you, is your mother feeling well? She is here, isn't she?"

Bodahn stepped up. "Afraid not, Messerre."

"Well where could she be?"

"With her suitor, perhaps?"

Gamlen was obviously confused. "Suitor? Leandra never mentioned a suitor."

"He left her flowers."

Elizabeth felt her heart drop as she saw a vase of white lillies on the table. "Oh, Maker..." She quickly explained to Gamlen the outline of what she'd dealt with, then ran outside. She ran to Fenris's mansion and knocked, hoping he hadn't already gone to bed. He answered and she grabbed his arm. "It's Mother!"

Fenris's eyes widened as he heard the pure terror in Elizabeth's voice. He nodded and went out with her to get Varric and Aveline. Together, the group went looking through Lowtown, following the clues from the urchin Gamlen paid off. Puddle after puddle of blood kept Elizabeth's head spinning. She found herself at the Foundry and a sense of dread washed over her. She went in and shook her head. "Maker, no..." She kept following the puddles until they stopped.

Varric pointed to a trap door. "Looks like someone forgot to hide the door this time."

Fenris looked around. "This is the place we found Ninnette's hand...that doesn't bode well."

Elizabeth shook her head. "Shut it! We're going to find her." She opened the trap door and climbed down nimbly, holding her staff at the ready. She looked around and saw Alessa, mistaking her for Leandra at first. She realized who it was and that she was dead, then looked around. "I'll find you..." she whispered.

Fenris snorted at the alter for some woman that was there. "Pathetic..." He coughed and sneezed, rubbing his nose. He felt better, but was clearly not fully recovered. That didn't matter now though: what mattered was finding Leandra.

Elizabeth glared at the portrait, then gasped. "That woman...she looks like Mother!" She bent down and picked up a locket. "This is Mother's locket." She turned and ran further into the place, desperate to find Leandra. She stopped suddenly, glaring at a mage. "Where is Mother?"

"Ah...she was so sure you'd come for her."

"No more games. Tell me where she is!"

"She's right here," a woman stood up and walked around the chair, walking as a corpse would. Elizabeth's eyes widened as she saw her mother's face staring at her. They were overrun by shades and possessions of the women killed then, killing each wave and getting closer to the mage responsible.

Elizabeth finished the mage off at last and turned, throwing her side knife into a corpse's head. As she reclaimed it, the animated corpse walked toward her. Elizabeth caught her as she was falling and cradled her mother in her lap, keeping herself from crying. Leandra smiled. "I knew you'd come for me."

Elizabeth shook her head. "I wasn't fast enough!"

"Sh, sh. That man would have kept me trapped here. Now, I am free. I get to be with Bethany and Carver...and your father again. Oh, but you'll be all alone."

Elizabeth sniffed. "I'll be fine, Mother. Don't worry about me."

"My little girl has grown up to be so strong. I'm so proud of you." Her head fell back and Elizabeth put her hand over Leandra's face, closing her lifeless eyes. She shook with the tears but composed herself, standing up and looking at her companions with a blank expression. Fenris had seen it before, and had realized this was what it looked like for her to be heartbroken. He looked down, unsure what to say. His pride and hers prevented anything from being said here.

Later that night, Elizabeth sat in the study of her estate, staring into the fire. Gamlen came walking in. "Did you find her?"

Elizabeth closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, Uncle. She's gone."

Gamlen looked into the fire for a moment. "You were right about the lilies then."

Elizabeth took a deep breath. "Mother would want us to move on. This isn't the time to mourn."

Gamlen broke where Elizabeth would not. "Why her? Why Leandra?"

Elizabeth decided it best not to tell Gamlen the reasons behind such a senseless crime. She shook her head. "You don't need to know, Uncle. I killed the mage responsible: that's all anyone needs to know."

Gamlen nodded and looked at the wall. "I...you've had a long day my dear. I'll speak with the city guard about retrieving...her body. Good night, my dear." He left, leaving Elizabeth alone to her thoughts. She went into the foyer and knelt on the floor with her dog, hugging him.

Orana came up. "Do you want anything, Mistress?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "No. Thank-you, Orana, but no." She stood up. "I think I'll retire early." She went up to her room, not getting in bed but sitting on it, staring into the fireplace. How long she stayed there, she didn't know. Eventually, however, she heard footsteps enter her room.

Fenris stood in the doorway. "I do not know what to say, but I am here."

Elizabeth closed her eyes. "What about your mother? Is she still alive?"

Fenris came over and sat beside her. "I honestly do not know. I don't remember anything before receiving these markings." He looked at Elizabeth. "I suppose I could say you're lucky to have known your mother."

Elizabeth nodded. "She cared for you as well."

Fenris dipped his head. "She was a good mother. And deserved better than to have her life taken by magic."

Elizabeth closed her eyes. "Magic can corrupt the mind." She shook her head. "I swear, I will avenge my mother's death."

Fenris nodded. "Ask, and it shall be done."