Author's Note:

Hello folks! This here is a little continuation of a series of five vignettes (chapters 20-24) by the same name located in my larger collection called Like a Hawke. You don't necessarily have to read them to get the gist of the story here, as I'll outline the important parts. They're there if you want to read them, though, and they're filled with a generous portion of action, blood, and a touch of everyone's favourite Antivan elf. Feel free to go check it out if you so desire. Here's the ID if you don't feel like going to my page: 6848505

This is a slightly altered version of the Mark of the Assassin DLC. If you haven't played the DLC, and don't want anything spoiled, I'd suggest you not read this. Some things have been changed to fit with my Hawke's timeline, and this takes place a little later than it does in the game. However, most of the major events of the DLC will remain the same, so again, read at your own risk.

Enjoy,

BB

Disclaimer: Tallis, Hawke, Fenris, and everything else here belongs to BioWare. Much as I might wish otherwise. I'm just playing with their toys.

Full Summary: After stepping down from her reign as Viscountess of Kirkwall, Hawke leaves the Free Marches altogether and embarks on a desperately needed vacation with her beloved. Trouble, however, just has this way of finding her, and their peaceful vacation to Orlais turns out to be quite the opposite.

What Happens in Orlais
Chapter One

Daedra Hawke; Champion; former Viscountess; Snarky Rogue; Gratuitous Dagger Admirer

"Are you sure we're in the right place?" Hawke muttered, her hands held up to block the blare of the setting sun cutting into her eyes as she glanced over at him.

"Positive." He responded simply, looking carefully at the surroundings with a calculated eye. The glare of the sun didn't even seem to bother him.

"Here, let me see." She said, holding out an expectant hand to him as he placed a sheet of parchment in it. She knew full well it was useless for her to read. She had no knowledge of Val Royeaux or its layout. Fenris was the one with the expertise, as he'd come through the city frequently while in the possession of his old master, Danarius. She'd just wanted to be doing something to push down the anxiety creeping slowly, steadily up her spine. Giving it up as a lost cause, she sighed and handed it back to him, "You don't think he was lying, do you?"

"Daedra, you're the one who wanted to trust him, not me."

The assassin, Zevran, had intercepted an ambush just days earlier by Antivan Crows poised to take the Champion's life. He intervened just as one of them was about to cut her down while she assisted her poisoned mabari, effectively saving her life, and even went so far to offer her the antidote to the Crow poison that had been killing her dog.

After a short, informative conversation with the Crow leader, they'd learned the initiator of the assassination contract resided in Tevinter, and concluded that it would be suicide to enter the Imperium during the mage rebellion after so many mages had died at her hands (a fact that still haunted her to this day). When informed of this dilemma, Zevran had offered to take care of the problem as long as they took care of the reason he was asked to Orlais in the first place: to get in contact with another assassin who apparently needed his help.

As a result, she and Fenris stood there in the waning light, awaiting the assassin's arrival.

"Well, it's not like we had much of a choice, Fenris." Hawke responded with a shrug, "It was either that or risk suicide by going into Tevinter, where the majority of the mage rebellion has fled. We would have certainly walked into a trap."

Of course, that was the moment when a dagger shot across the clearing and stuck into the wall behind her with a dull thunk, just inches from her skull. Her heart leapt into her throat as she froze, her eyes wide as Fenris whipped around in the direction of the blade's origin, withdrawing the greatsword from his back.

Hawke, regaining her composure, turned to look at the blade, pulling it from the wall and examining it in her hands, testing its weight, "This is a nice dagger."

"Thank you," came the reply. A female voice, originating from a rooftop nearby, "Champion."

She'd long since stopped being surprised when people knew who she was. Apparently, news of her existence had gotten around, thanks to a certain dwarf with a love of storytelling.

When they looked, the woman's figure was silhouetted by the setting sun, and it wasn't until she leapt nimbly onto an awning and down onto the ground in front of them, that they were able to see her features. Her hair was a similar shade of red as Hawke's and was pulled into a ponytail on the back of her head, revealing the clear points of her elven ears. She was small, even by elven standards. Most unusual, however, was the color of her eyes. Most elves in her experience, apart from Zevran, had green eyes. This woman's eyes were a pale blue, with flecks of... hazel? How odd.

"I take it you're Zevran's contact?"

Her eyebrow rose, "Zev sent you?"

"He did."

"Where is he?"

"At a tavern not far from here. He sent us in his place. You apparently already know who I am, so this is my companion Fenris." Hawke explained. Fenris, despite his misgivings about the situation, was silent, and simply nodded in the woman's direction.

"Why did he send you?" The woman's arms folded across her chest.

"Because we may be able to help you. If we help you in his place, he'll take care of a little problem we have with the Crows."

"Well, I have to tell you, I think I received the better end of the bargain. Zev's good, but he's no Champion."

Hawke's shoulders lifted in a shrug, "Oh, I don't know. He seemed pretty excited to kill more Crows."

The elven woman chuckled, "That's not surprising."

"May I say that you certainly know how to make an entrance." Hawke said suddenly, flipping the woman's dagger in her hand by the blade and handing it back to her.

"I do try." She replied, sliding the blade into a sheath set on her back.

"Now, is there any reason in particular that you felt it necessary to hurl your dagger in my direction? Other than trying to kill me, of course."

"Please," the woman said with a scoff, "if I was trying to kill you, you'd be dead."

"You obviously don't know me very well," she replied, smiling wryly, "But, if your intent was to frighten me, I'll be honest with you. It worked. Briefly."

"Ah, so the famed Champion of Kirkwall does feel fear."

Hawke breathed a quick laugh, "In spite of all the rumours going around, I am only human."

"My name is Tallis." The woman said after a moment, introducing herself with a graceful bow, "And I would be happy to have your help, Champion—If you're willing to give it, that is."

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't at least willing to give it some consideration." Hawke explained, "And honestly, I don't have a whole lot of choice in the matter. So what is it you need?"

"A—jewel." She responded, and while Hawke didn't show it, she noted the woman's hesitation, "Currently in the possession of one Duke Prosper, here in Orlais. Maybe you're familiar with him?"

"Oh yes," Hawke muttered with an agitated groan and a roll of her eyes, "I remember him well." She'd first met the man at the banquet held in her honour when she became Champion. Subsequently, when she became Viscountess, she was "advised" (forced) by the seneschal to hold an annual ball – one of the utterly few social functions she actively took part in, and only because she had to – to build report with the people. And every year, without fail, this Duke Prosper would practically hang on her arm, babbling on and on about some hunting expedition she simply had to take part in. It was excruciating, and whenever she looked across the room to Fenris – posing as her bodyguard – her eyes pleading with him to remove her from the Duke's incessant prodding, he would simply stare at her with a bemused smile pulling his mouth to the side. Damn blighted elf is enjoying this. If he weren't so bloody handsome when he smiled like that...

"Perhaps you can ensure we get to take part in the hunt, then." Tallis said, pacing slowly, her hand raised to her chin in thought, "You are still the Champion, right?"

"Of course I am. Although, the thought of going on a hunt simply for sport does not really appeal to me. I've killed my fair share of crazed wildlife to know that it's generally better to avoid getting my face torn off by feral creatures of the wild."

"Are you sure you won't reconsider?" Tallis asked, "The Duke is a delightful host. Or, so I hear."

Running a hand through her hair as she thought for a moment, she sighed heavily, thinking of her options. Well, it's either this or Tevinter. Or waiting for another ambush by the Crows, and honestly, we barely survived the last one. "What is this jewel you're looking for?"

"The Duke thinks it's valuable—and it is—just not in the way he believes. I need to relieve him of it. And... I can't do it alone."

"You want me to steal from an Orlesian duke?" Hawke asked, an incredulous eyebrow cocked up her forehead.

She shrugged, "This is why I wanted Zevran's help. He has... a lot less morality to hold him back. But, from what I hear, you get things done."

Hawke's arms folded across her chest, her eyes narrowing on the woman, "And you really think that's enough to make me steal from a man whose only problem was being too annoyingly friendly?"

"He shouldn't even have the jewel in the first place." The elven woman argued, stopping for a moment, before lifting her head to face her again, "He, who wishes to walk on water, must first learn to swim."

Hawke wasn't sure what that proverb had to do with the situation, but couldn't help seeing the truth in the words. There was something distinctly unique about it, as well as the elf who had just said it to her.

"It's called The Heart of the Many." Tallis continued, "The jewel, that is."

"Interesting name."

"Interesting jewel. The only thing I care about is getting it away from the Duke. Here's the problem: The Heart is in a vault, behind who knows what kind of traps, protected by an army of Orlesian chevaliers, all inside a fortress that was designed to be impregnable. And, let's not forget:" The elven woman added, "It's on the side of a mountain, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by monsters."

"Oh, why am I not surprised?" Hawke muttered, massaging her temples with her thumb and forefinger, looking over to Fenris, who just stared at her, "Oh don't give me that look. That's the I-told-you-so look. I hate that look."

"If you're not up for it," Tallis said with a shrug, "it's fine. I can track down Zev again."

"No," the Champion said, sighing, "It's either this or walking into a trap in Tevinter. This is the lesser of two evils, as far as I'm concerned. Besides, I'm a rogue. I can sneak into the vault. I'm good at sneaking."

Fenris simply shook his head, rolling his eyes in exasperation.

"Let's hope. Just come with me to Chateau Haine. If nothing else, you get fine wine, and fancy company."

Hawke grimaced, "Oh, joy of joys."