Reunion
Summary. Hawke makes his way to Weisshaupt, but not alone
Chapter 1
In hindsight, Hawke should've asked the Inquisition for a horse, or any sort of transport.
The Champion was currently on the outskirts of Orlais, long out of the Western Approach and now alone in the vast lands of the Empire. Wearing the Mantle of the Champion with his traditional sword the Celebrant strapped to his back, the Champion held out his map. Judging by the markings, he was probably seven weeks away from reaching the fortress, much to his dismay.
'Why did the Wardens have to be so bloody far away?', he said with a tired voice. The long days of traveling have slowly begun to wear on the warrior. His body was fatigued from the long travels and with little time to sleep or even close his eyes for an hour he could probably fall on a bed of spikes and sleep like a baby.
Still, it must be done.
He sighed as he ran a metal hand through his black unkempt hair, his red eyes looked at the rising sun as the new day had begun. He sighed and resumed his walk.
The borders of Orlais were deserted. The farm lands were burnt or destroyed by the constant battles of mage and templar, adding to that are the demons and fade rifts that plagued the world of Thedas. He walked on, grimacing at the dead.
Anders once more plagued his mind. All this destruction, for nothing.
He wondered if he should've killed him when he had the chance back in Kirkwall, maybe things wouldn't have escalated so fast, if he had seen the signs, if he had done more… He shook his head from the thoughts, what was done is done, all he can do is make this better for the innocent folk. Still, at least the Inquisitor and his companions were doing the good for the people of Thedas.
He smiled when he thought of Varric, Maker above it was great to see his old friend again. That was probably the one thing, among others, keeping him going. The thoughts of seeing everyone one day, all of his closest companions by his side once more.
Merrill… His heart clenched when he thought of her again, truly. Parting ways with her was one of the hardest things he had ever done in his life as the Champion. Still, she was protecting her people, she was doing everything in her power to help the innocent elves of Kirkwall, what more could he ask of her. He missed her company though, so dearly it hurts him so much.
Her smiles and naivety warmed his heart, her beautiful emerald eyes could break his will and he'd be happy to just stare at her all day with her in his arms. He wanted to be with her again, but now was not the time. Obligations to put an end to this took his attention more so. Even if she persisted, he wouldn't allow her to journey with him, no more. She had spent plenty of time fighting for her life with him, he wasn't going to allow her to do so again, not on his behalf.
He stopped.
He slowly reached for his greatsword, and then turned around and blocked an oncoming attack. The Venatori had finally caught up with him. He was surrounded by them, several mages and rouges, two champions and plenty of swordsmen. He grunted and pushed off the attacker and pierced his chest. Turning around to block two more, he parried their attacks and swung his black blade and slashed their chests, killing them.
Then an arrow pierced his shoulder, making him stumble but not enough to put him down. He tore the arrow out of his shoulder and back handed an attacker. Five more attack at once but Hawke, remembering his templar training, used Holy Smite to blast them back from him.
A mage fired a ball of fire at the Champion but Hawke quickly rolled to the left, dodging the ball of flames. He then silenced the mage's magic, and rose up and bringing his blade with him, he slashed a swordsman's torso, killing him. He deflected an arrow but was then blasted in the back by a rock fist, knocking him on his stomach.
He quickly rose to his feet just in time to block a champion's massive maul brought down upon him. He growled at the champion and pressed on, trying to crush the warrior. Hawke growled at the strain, before roaring and using all the might he possessed to push him off. The champion stumbled, leaving himself open for Hawke to end his life by stabbing into his stomach fully through and pulling out the blade, he quickly decapitated the attacker.
Hawke turned on his next enemies, before getting another arrow into his body, this time his chest, barely missing his heart. He grunted before falling on one knee, the pain and fatigue was combing themselves to wear him down. He growled at her stared up his attackers, now facing down the leader he guessed. A mage of all people, wearing a Magistiers robe and carrying an enchanter's staff. He smirked at the defeated Champion, before signalling his men to most likely bind him.
However, just before they were in reach of them, they suddenly blasted back by magic. The Magister turned to them, then back to direction of the attack before getting blown back himself. Hawke looked and too his surprise, an old friend.
Anders stood there, magical energies emitting from his hand while his right carried the old staff Hawke had given him years ago. The mage wore his black robes with two daggers strapped to his waist, his blond hair in a ponytail but the fringe was unkempt, he looked much older than the last time Hawke had seen him.
He then aimed his staff at Hawke, who was just pulling out the arrow in his chest, and then covered him in green light, healing his friend. Hawke stood up and faced the mage. Their eyes were steely and darkened at the sight of each other, before nodding to another and turned their attentions to the Venatori.
Hawke ran at the next champion, gripping his massive sword with both hands and striking the warrior with the ferocity of a tiger. The champion was no match for the rage Hawke possessed, there was no time to attack and there was even less time to defend himself. Anders kept the others off the Champion's back by firing spell after spell at them, never letting up nor even showing signs of fatigue. It was as if the mage had seemingly unlimited energy.
However, one arrow caught him off guard, hitting his staff, upsetting the balance and sending the charged up magical energies out of control. The staff's glow faded as the tip exploded a tiny bolt of magic. Anders growled at the pain the magic sent into his face, but just before he could recuperate, a swordsman rushed at him. He didn't get to far though.
A blur dashed past him, slashing the warrior and killing him. Anders saw his rescuer and didn't know to either cry or laugh. Standing there, not even facing the mage, was Fenris. He turned to the mage slowly, his dark green eyes harboured loathe for the mage, but when they settled on Hawke, the anger turned to them. He looked at Anders, and nodded.
Anders casted haste on the elf as he ran into the fray. Fenris cleaved his way through the Venatori swordsmen, slashing and slicing anyone that came close to him as he ran to Hawke's side. Hawke turned around to thrust his sword through another warrior just as Fenris swung his own two handed sword over the Champion to decapitate a warrior behind him.
The lyrium tattooed elf spun around and punched his hand through a mage's chest, then quickly move the body in front of him to block the arrows. Fenris tossed the dead mage aside, turning his eyes on the archers. Then, a glass vial was tossed between the two archers, shattering upon contact with the ground creating an area of smoke.
Cries of pain and the sounds of stabbing were echoed in the smoke. When the shadows vanished, the two archers were on the ground, necks slashed and torsos stabbed. Standing above them was Isabela, grinning madly at the others. She then leapt at another Venatori, plunging her daggers into his shoulders, flipped over him and stabbed him in the back. She kicked him aside and ran to her next prey.
The Magister then created a rune beneath the pirate. Once her foot stepped on it, her body was encased in white lightning, frozen in place. He then fire a shockwave at Fenris, sending the elf five feet away from the fight and on his back. Before the mage could attack again, Anders fired a stream of ice at the him, hitting his right arm and freezing it up to his shoulders, ceasing the magic he was about to cast.
But Anders was then attacked by a swordsman. He just blocked his attack but the warrior's superior physical strength knocked his staff out of his hands with the second attack, leaving the blond mage unarmed. Before Anders could draw one of his daggers, the warrior punched him in the jaw, sending him on his side. He stood over the blond, his sword inches away from his neck.
Suddenly, the warrior was then encased in ice, freezing him entirely like a statue. Anders looked behind him and just like the first two, he was surprised to see them.
Bethany, with her staff glowing whitish blue, stood there and froze another warrior while beside her, bashing away another was Aveline, wielding her own personally made shield and sword. The two joined the fight as Fenris and Isabela recovered and resumed their attacks upon the Venatori.
Hawke finished the last swordsman defending the Magister, his black sword dripping with the blood of his fallen enemies. The Magister sneered at the Champion, before slitting his hand and drawing power upon his blood. Hawke raised his blade, challenging the Magister to give it the best he had. He never learned his power however.
The Magister froze, then suddenly a blade exploded out of his stomach. The blade drew back as he fell on his knees. Standing above the kneeling Magister was Merrill, who then decapitated the mage in a clean stroke.
She faced Hawke, her battle face faded quickly by replacing itself with a loving smile.
The Venatori were defeated quickly after everyone gathered themselves and with careful planning and combinations, they were wiped out in minutes.
'So…I assume you got Varric's letter?', Hawke said, as he sat down on a boulder, a grin plastered to his face. 'You mean the one containing the fact Coryphes is still alive and you're heading to Weisshaupt?', Aveline said, sheathing her sword. 'Yup, that's the one'. 'And these were who?', Bethany asked, looking at the fallen. Hawke made a tired sigh as he threw his hands up. 'Tervinter Cultists called the Venatori who serve Coryphes'.
Everyone made an "o" sound bar Anders who shrugs and muttered "figures". 'Well we're all here now. So how much farther to the stronghold?', Aveline inquired. 'If we're lucky, seven weeks on foot', Hawke said, he could feel the ache in his feet already at the mere thought. 'And if we're unlucky?', Anders asked. 'We'll keep getting attacked by the Venatori and end up giving up the journey and just wait for the end of world'.
'Who says we're walking?', Isabela asked, placing her hands on her hips. 'Pirate. Ship. Anyone think of that?', she stressed. Everyone looked at her in shock, even Merrill. Then she looked offended. 'You guys really think I lost that ship already?', she said, placing a hand above her heart in mock offensive. 'Yes', came everyone's reply, even Merrill couldn't deny it, she did think she lost the ship again.
'Have a little faith in me! I mean who was the one who give the Relic back to the Qunari?', she asked. 'Who was the one who caused them stay and create chaos?', Fenris said, folding his arms and looking at her as her confident smirk vanished and was replaced by a paused look. She said nothing and wisely kept her mouth shut. 'I thought as much', Aveline sighed. 'W-Well who cares? Hawke killed the grey bastard! The point is I got a ship, we use said ship and presto! We're at the ass end of the world!', she said.
'Better then walking for seven weeks', Anders agreed. 'So where is your ship?', Hawke asked. 'About a day or so from here, so let's get a move people!', she said, heading off into the direction. The group moved on from the battlefield, though given their record, if fortune continues to deliver ill to them then they'll most likely be fighting soon enough.
Descent of Darkness
'Isabela how much farther?', Bethany asked, trudging her feet in the dirt, completely drained from today. 'Err, about say, three or fours hours?', she said, though with hesitation. It became very apparent to Fenris that Isabela had no idea where she was leading them. 'Isabela, by chance do you have ANY clue to where's your ship is docked? At all?', he asked.
The pirate turned to the group, before giving them a sheepish grin. 'I think it's in Antiva…', she said but the angry glares from Aveline and Fenris said the thoughts in everyone's mind. '…We're lost', they said. 'No we are not! We just don't know where we are', Isabela chirped. 'That means we're lost', Anders said, face palming himself.
'Isabela…you do know if we're meant to head to Antiva, we needed to head to east', Merrill said, pulling out her own map. Everyone looked at her in shock. 'What?', she asked. 'You had a map and you didn't say anything!?', Anders shouted.
She looked offended and a little hurt, before she pouted. 'Well yes, why wouldn't I have a map? Don't you guys have one?', she asked. At this, Anders closed his mouth and scratched his stubbled chin while Fenris glared at her, Bethany and Aveline said nothing. 'And you two call me stupid', Merrill said. Hawke rolled his eyes, party banters were mixed blessing for him these days.
'Well no point in continuing on in the dark, let's rest up and try getting some sleep', he said.
The group set camp up and Hawke, being the leader of the merry company, decided he'd take first watch. However…
'And where do you think you're going?', Merrill asked, her green eyes stared down…or rather up, at the human, who froze. 'I'm…taking the first watch', he started before Merrill jabbed a finger at his chest. 'Oh no you're not. You MR Champion are going to bed and rest', she said sternly. Suddenly all eyes were on the surprisingly strong willed(and a bit scary) elf, who was literally ordering Hawke, to go to bed like a mother would to a child. It was an amusing scene really, a small elven woman being the boss of tall human warrior.
'M-Merrill- 'Don't you "Merrill" me, when was the last time you actually slept, hmm?', she asked, folding her arms giving him the eyes. Hawke's throat dried up quickly when he realized he HADN'T sleep through the night at all in the past few weeks, and sadly Merrill knew him like the back of her hand…or well, when her hands weren't covered in ink or magic.
'I slept last night just fine', he lied. 'Oh yes, judging by the way your eyes keep drooping I am certain you slept like a baby', she commented. 'Brother, maybe you should just go to bed', Bethany quipped, realizing Merrill, for the first time since she met her, was not going to back down from Hawke. Hawke looked at his sister in shock that she side against him, but one look in her eyes told him for the sake of living to see another tomorrow, he'd best do as his lover says, least he suffers for it.
'She's right. The longer you refuse to sleep the worse your condition will get. You're not exactly at the peak of health Hawke', Anders said, lighting the camp fire. Hawke looked at him, then at the others, who didn't face him and pretended to be busy, bar Isabela, who was smirking with pride that her kitten was wearing the pants of the relationship between the Champion and her.
'I'm-
'Hoku'. Suddenly everyone's eyes were wide open when Merrill used his own name, when that happens, its either when she's being extraordinarily happy with him, when she's serious, screaming his name in bed(Courtesy of Isabela's eavesdropping), but rarely, VERY rarely, when she's angry.
'If I don't see you in bed in the next five minutes I swear to the Creators I will forbid you to lay a single hand on me, or any part of my body until we reach the fortress! Mythal I may even extend to a year!', she said. Hawke gulped nervously, before stuttering a weak "yes ma'am". Then, out of nowhere, Merrill grinned as if the scary boss woman never appeared and patted his cheeks. 'Wonderful, good night Ma Vhenan', she said with a happy grin. She picked up her staff and proclaimed she was taking the first watch.
When she was out of ear shot, Hawke looked at everyone, their faces, even Fenris and Isabela's faces, were, surprised by the display of will from Merrill.
'What just happened?', Bethany asked. 'Merrill just, owned Hawke', Anders said. '…Who is that woman and what has she done to Merrill?'.
Hawke slowly entered his tent and after removing his armour, laid down on the bed roll and rested his head upon the pillow, all the while thinking of Merrill. Her courage and dominating posture, was amazing to say the least. He guessed all that time helping the elves back in Kirkwall must've really helped her become more independent and stronger willed then ever. A proud smile graced his lips at the thought, his lover wasn't the naïve shy mage he knew anymore.
The issue was…he didn't know to be happy or scared of her anymore. One thing is certain, he'll be a good man for her from now on…she wouldn't deny him sex with her…would she?