AN: Welcome to my new project while we wait for Dragon Age Inquisition. I decided to make an OC to give Sebastian Vael a little love, since he finds so little of it. If you're not into OCs, don't read. Later on it's very possible things will get smutty. :)

Let me know what you think! I tend to keep my fanfictions to myself, so any kind of review (even if it's just blatant hate) is welcome.

Thanks!

Chapter One:

Getting Started

"Look at you both. Matching scowls. Don't worry, we'll find something –someone- better." Madrigal said, trying to make peace.

Garret hadn't appreciated Carver's comment about them being his templar's they were running from. Neither had she, but she'd grown to expect it. In many ways, she admired his restraint. When it was just the two of them, without the oldest Hawke's sharp, yet almost fatherly, gaze flicking between them, Carver could be even harsher.

"We need this, Mads." Garret said after a silent glance passed between them.

"I'll say." Grumbled Carver. "It's either this, or..."

"Or what?"

"Marrying you off to some vicious, cut-throat yet alarmingly handsome politician, of course." Garret said, lightly. He yanked her ponytail and she squeaked, batting him away.

"I'd rather be eaten by darkspawn."

"Perhaps a slaver, then?" Carver cut in.

She smiled. If they could still team together to tease her, their relationship couldn't be too far beyond repair despite recent events.

Jokes aside their money situation was dire. More than once she'd wandered past The Blooming Rose and thought that maybe, only maybe, getting her ass pinched and serving drinks wouldn't be so bad. Even if it only meant to lighten her load a little. She could battle along side her brothers well enough, daggers flying, but she knew it made them uncomfortable having her in the middle of the fray. Especially after Bethany.

"Wait a minute... Gamlen!" Carver said suddenly. They'd already begun to walk away from the rude dwarf. "He's got a head for this garbage. Maybe he can talk to Batrand. He knows some people. After last week we need all the coin and influence we can get."

He wasn't wrong.

"You catch more flies with honey – but Gamlen's bullshit could work too." Garret glanced at Madrigal, searching for her opinion.

"Hmm... he's not exactly reliable, is he?" She remembered an argument they'd had a few nights ago. Gamlen had been swearing up and down he'd found a good match in a highborn lady, for Carver of all people. Mads had been surprised Carver had even agreed to meet her, but when they'd shown up they'd gotten accosted by a group of debt collectors who were using some plot she didn't care to know the details of to get their uncle out into the open.

"Well, he did get us into Kirkwall, didn't he?" Again, Carver wasn't wrong, as much as she hated to admit it. She bit her lip. It wasn't only relying on Gamlen, it was working with that snobby little gimp from earlier. Though they'd dealt with worse this past year...

"What else can we do?" He said while she thought. "We're losing ground. And I don't fancy waking up in the gallows."

"Nothing like the ever present fear of persecution to send us into our kind uncle's arms." She grinned. "We could talk to him, I suppose. We'll get by either way, we always have before."

"All that painful optimism is the reason you're my favorite." Garret reached up to pull her pony tail again, but she ducked forward so he grabbed thin air. Carver rolled his eyes and opened his mouth, but suddenly someone cut through the three of them.

Garret's hand flew to his side, and he spun around. "Hey!"

Madrigal's hand flicked to one of her daggers, something that had become habitual at any minor sign of danger. She watched a man with hair bright orange dart away through the crowd, and followed her brother's queue to begin chasing him. How tactless. When she went pick-pocketing she was a lot more subtle. Most of the time. Besides, if he had any idea of her brother's idea of mercy, he wouldn't have even dared.

They rounded the corner just in time to see a golden haired dwarf approaching the now terrified thief, who was pinned against the wall with a single arrow – or was it a bolt? She felt giddy, she hadn't seen a weapon like that before.

The dwarf spoke to the thief, took back the pouch of coin, and then yanked out the bolt leaving him to stumble away. He swaggered over to them. He exuded confidence and capability, curly little hairs on his chest as golden as they were on his head. His eyes looked vaguely amused, much like Garret's usually were. He threw the pouch back with a grin, and her oldest brother caught it without any trouble.

"How do you do?" He said, spinning the bolt around between his fingers. "Varric Tethras, at your service."

Madrigal instinctively opened her mouth to introduce herself – a politeness that had been drilled into her by her mother since she was a little girl, but a look from Carver sent her silent.

Varric paused for a moment, and when none of them said anything he carried on.

"I apologize for Bartrand. He wouldn't know an opportunity if it hit him square in the jaw."

"But you would?" Garret said, still a little suspiciously.

"I would. What my brother doesn't realise is that we need someone like you. He would never admit it either – he's too proud. I, however, am quite practical."

He spoke with a silver tongue, like their father used to. All charm and charisma.

Garret began to question him, but Madrigal could tell from his tone of voice that he liked Varric as much as she did. Carver still looked a little unsure.

Varric told them he'd heard of Garret. Apparently a year's worth of dodgy underground work goes a long way.

"You must have heard of my siblings, too then?"

"A little. But not as much as you, messere." He looked curiously at Madrigal and Carver. "How do you do, little lady? I've seen you around high town, working the crowds."

"I wasn't meant to be seen." She smiled at him though, widely. She did that a lot.

"My lips are solemnly sealed."

"Working the crowd? What does he mean working the crowd?" Carver said.

"Oh, you know. Singing a song here, plucking some coin there. Don't worry, I've kept myself out of trouble... please don't tell Mother."

"Can't leave you alone for a second."

"Either way, your siblings are certainly welcome to join us, by all means." Varric said, dripping sincerity.

"Oh, I'm going." Carver said straight away. "Without this expedition we won't last the year."

Mads stayed silent. She would go too, but there was no point in arguing about that now and it would become an argument. She'd heard too many exciting stories and songs to be kept away from the Deep Roads, that was for sure.

"You're going awfully far out of your way just to hire another guard." Garret said, sharp as ever. He really did live up to their family name. Hawke like in every sense. Mads took more after the Amell side of her family, dainty and soft featured. Carver was an awkward mix.

Varric smirked then. It seemed the conversation was going exactly as he wanted it. He revealed the appealing twist – they wouldn't just be any other hired guard, they'd be partners. Put in money to fund the expedition, reap the rewards at the end. Mads could almost taste the very shiny, very pretty, treasures they could find down there.

"Sounds interesting." Garret said eventually, after more questions that Mads had begun to zone in and out of. Her mind, when it came to these things, was fairly one track. Do the thing. Get the reward. As long as there wasn't anything morally suspect about the thing, her answer would always be a resounding yes. "But if I had any gold, I wouldn't need this job."

Mads piped up. "I can always-"

"No." Carver said. He had rightly assumed she'd been offering to steal more regularly.

"You need to think big." Varric said. "The treasure you find in the Deep Roads could set you and your family up for life."

"Come on." Carver cut in. "The dwarf makes some sense, no offense. Look, you started this, and it's a good idea. Certainly better than ending up in the gallows."

"We wouldn't end up in the gallows, anyway." Mads said shortly, feeling defensive. "... But he's still right, brother. It is a good idea."

"We work together, you and I. And before you know it, we'll have all the capital we need." Varric looked pleased for the added support.

Garret mulled over his options, asked two more questions, then glanced back at them. Carver raised his eyebrows expectantly. Mads cocked her head to the side. He knew that it was up to him, they were only there to offer their opinions and in Mads' case, support. He'd always liked playing head of household with their father, but ever since it had been thrust upon him he'd been a little bit more hesitant in some larger decisions.

"The templar's have been sniffing around, brother." Mads said eventually. "Varric's right, with a bit more coin it would be easier to..."

Garret cut her off.

"Well, why not? It's not like we have anything better to do."

Aveline was the obvious choice as far as places to start earning coin. She always had some job lying around that involved killing people who in all likeliness deserved to die.

Mads kept glancing side ways at Varric as they walked to visit her. It wasn't just that she very rarely saw dwarfs, there was an over arching sense that she should not be trusting him – but he was just so damn likeable.

"Have you fallen for me already, Little Hawke?" He said.

"For you? No." She replied, without missing a beat. "For your pretty crossbow though..."

"Bianca."

"She has a name?"

"Of course she does, Bright Eyes."

"Bright eyes?"

"I'm trying to settle on what to call you. I'll think of something soon. Something good, don't you worry."

She laughed.

"Do you give everyone you meet nicknames?" Carver asked.

"Certainly." Varric paused, and sized him up. "Junior."

Mads bit her lip, stifling herself as he scowled. Scowling seemed to be the only expression he was capable of these days. Maker, she wished he'd smile a little.

She tried to talk to him about swords and make fun of Gamlen, that always seemed to cheer him up a little, but he wouldn't take the bait. His mood swings were getting worse. She shrugged, and smiled reassuringly to Garrett when he glanced back at them. Carver had no idea how much their brother worried about him.

They were passing the Chantry when they heard it.

"Sebastian! Stop this madness!" Grand Cleric Elthina's voice was unmistakable. Mads had heard it many times over the last few years when Mother pulled her along to various services. She believed she'd fallen to sleep to it once or twice. "The Chantry cannot condone revenge, Sebastian!"

This wasn't a pretty Chantry speech she was giving. She was flustered, and speaking to a man who must've been Garret's age – maybe a year or so younger. It was hard to tell, he had almost flawless bronze skin.

"It is my right, my duty, to show these assassin's there is no where in the Free Marches to hide." His voice was gravelly, and full of hurt. That accent... could he be from Starkhaven? His armor was very fancy.

He began to stroll away from the Grand Cleric, but her brow was furrowed in out rage. She ripped the piece of paper he had been sticking up from the board.

"This is murder."

In a flash, and to Mads' shame, before she could react, the man – Sebastian – drew the bow from his back and shot an arrow straight through the paper, nailing it back to the board. The Grand Cleric mouth fell open.

"No." He said. "What happened to my family was murder."

And with that he turned and walked straight past them. His raging eyes met Mads' when he passed her, and his eyes flicked momentarily down to her hand which was poised on her dagger. They were blue. So blue for a moment she was sure they couldn't be real. She withdrew when he was safely out of sight.

"Well, that was dramatic." Garret said, plucking at a loose thread on his sleeve. "Should we see what the fuss was about?"

"Do you think she's okay?" Mads wondered aloud, voice soft. Seeing little old ladies being yelled at reminded her too much of Mother and Gamlen. The Grand Cleric stood to the side of the board, composing herself.

"The Maker will set her straight, come on."

They approached the board and Garret ripped down the poster. His grey eyes – Mads' eyes, one of the only features they shared other than their general light hearted demeanor – searched the paper, and he raised his eye brows when he was done.

"Well?" Carver snapped.

"Our vengeful young ser is a prince."

"You're kidding." Varric took the paper from him. "This'll certainly make a story."

Mads read it over his shoulder.

"A grave crime was committed against all free-thinking men and women in the Free Marches. The ruling Vael family in Starkhaven –my family- was brutally murdered, down to the youngest babe in arms. This massacre was carried out by members of the Flint mercenary company. I hereby offer a bounty on the head of each Flint Company soldier in the Kirkwall vicinity."

-Prince Sebastian Vael

The words were scrawled neatly, in flamboyant curving handwriting. The writing of someone who had been trained to write letters. A prince. She should have guessed in the first place.

"We've done worse than kill murderers." She said brightly. "A bounty on each head."

Garret nodded. "We'll put the word out and track them down."

"Allow me." Said Varric. "My connections are bursting at the seams. Also... make sure you come and visit me tonight, Hawke. I'd like to chat."

"How forward." Garret said, rolling up Sebastian's note and tucking it in his robe. "Won't Bianca be jealous?"

"Bianca? Never."