All belongs to the awesomeness of Bioware
A/N: So this is my first foray into DA fanfiction, I was super scared to write this because I feel I will not do this amazing series justice (har har har), but I hope you enjoy this! Please Rate and Review. Origins stuff is on the way as well :D.
Chapter 1
The Hanged Man was crowded with people on the beginning of Lover's Month. Many of them were searching for someone to spend the night with or had already found one and were looking for a place to have a good time. The couples had populated to one side of the bar while the singles went to the other. On the couple's side of the bar, people were groping and kissing each other, while the singles could only look on.
Hawke absolutely loathed Lover's Month. This year she had decided to spend it by buying a pint for herself and some chocolates. Hawke usually didn't indulge because they needed that money for The Deep Roads expedition that was to set off in only a moth, but Hawke was feeling fairly miserable this Lover's Month. She sat on the single's side of the bar nursing her pint and looking at a wall she found rather interesting.
Past Lover's Months weren't so bad, under her mother's incredibly watchful eye her and Bethany were forbidden to go near boys. Mother wouldn't take any risks of them revealing their magic. Hawke and Bethany would usually spend Lover's Month together, going on a hike through the hills of Lothering or other sister bonding activates. Of course Mother had to go with them, but they didn't mind. They would talk about boys they had seen in the village and have a laugh about their silly crushes.
But now Bethany was gone. That blasted Ogre had killed her when they had been fleeing Lothering. It had all happened so quickly that Hawke did not even think to look in Bethany's direction when she charged at the monster. It had picked her up like a ragdoll and crushed her to smithereens. Hawke just wanted to sit and hold her sister in her arms forever, but there was no time. Bethany never even got a proper funeral. Hawke rested her head on the wooden table. She hadn't even thought about Bethany because they had been so busy with The Deep Roads preparations and the recruiting. Hawke ran a shaky hand through her long black hair as she thought of it. Bethany would never grow old, Bethany will never have the lavish wedding she had always dreamed about, and Bethany will never have children. Hawke squeezed her eyes shut desperate not to think about it, Bethany would want her to be happy, not some old shrew sitting in a tavern by herself during Lover's Month.
She then heard the bench squeak which caused her to lift her head. Carver sat down across from her with his own pint. Hawke smiled.
"Come to join your spinster sister in eternal loneliness?" Hawke quipped.
Caver gave her a small smile. Ever since Bethany had died the two became closer. He was still a tit, but Hawke tried her hardest to make sure he was welcome amongst her new friends. He greatly appreciated that even though he never showed it, just a smile from him meant the world to Hawke.
"I guess I am." He said.
"What, those nights at The Blooming Rose not enough for you?"
Carver's jaw then dropped, Hawke giggled. "How did you-"?
"Isabela," Hawke said.
"Maker, I'm going to kill that woman… Speaking of her, where is she?"
Hawke nodded over to the bar where Isabela currently searching for her next conquest. Isabela had already had a quickie with almost every man in Lowtown that night. Isabela then noticed Caver and Hawke sitting alone at a table near the back of the room. What a sad sight they were… Isabela had offered both of them her "services", which both of them had declined. It was a shame that Hawke didn't play for the other team. She was a goddess. Hawke was awkwardly tall, towering over almost everyone, but made up for it with this walk that turned men's heads. It was this strut that Isabela had tried to perfect, but failed. Only Hawke could walk like that. Whenever Isabela had asked Hawke for pointers she turned crimson and said she had no idea what Isabela was talking about. Hawke also had long black hair that went past her shoulders in waves. However, the best thing about Hawke were her eyes, they were a piercing blue, but had a glimmer of her trademark humor in them and a warmth that invited people. Isabela had wanted her from the first moment she saw her, but Hawke had said that she was only interested in men.
Isabela sauntered over to the table. Carver watched mesmerized. Isabela still wondered why he hadn't accepted her offer, he was obviously attracted to her, but it wasn't a real loss. He wasn't like his sister in the slightest, sure he looked a lot like her, but he didn't have that glimmer in his eyes or the strut in his step.
"What are my two kittens doing alone during Lover's Month?"
Hawke giggled at being called kitten. Carver looked away in embarrassment.
"Oh, can't a brother and sister have a pint without any other company?" Hawke said.
"They can, but I did invite everyone over to Varric's suite for a private party…"
Hawke's eyes widened.
"Not like that! Just a friendly game of Diamondback." Isabela said.
"Well, okay then… Count me in." Hawke said as she and Carver both followed Isabela to Varric's suite.
Varric sat reclined in his giant chair around his large table. It was big enough for all of Hawke's new friends to sit at.
Out of everyone Hawke had met on her journeys so far Varric and Isabela were the one's she bonded with the most. They were both funny and lighthearted like her. Whenever Hawke was feeling down she would just go to The Hanged Man and they would cheer her up in an instant. Although the countless nights at the Pub had been doing a number on Hawke.
She heard Varric speak causing her to lose her train of thought. "So, Rivaini why would you want to give up a very erotic night with many different partners just to play cards with friends who won't even sleep with you?"
Isabela laughed at that. "I just want to spend time without rutting…" Seeing Varric, Carver, and Hawke's expression Isabela threw up her arms in exasperation. "What?!"
"I never thought I would hear you say that…" Varric said.
Just then the door to Varric's suite opened and none other than Fenris entered. He regarded the room with a scowl and then sat down next to Isabela, looking right at Hawke.
"What are we playing?" He asked directly. Fenris was an elf of few words.
Varric said what they were playing and the game started. Hawke sat out, she had to stop losing her money to Isabela and Varric who kicked her ass at Diamondback every day. She instead looked at Fenris who was too concentrated to even care.
The elf was odd for lack of a better word. Hawke had felt sympathetic towards him, but whenever he started snapping at her for being a mage it took all of her self-control to not argue with him right in the streets of Kirkwall. She knew why he felt the way he felt, but his hatred was so blinding that Hawke wanted to slap him sometimes. Then again, he would just rip out her heart, so it didn't seem like a good plan. He was attractive though. Hawke had never really noticed elves, but he was strong and assertive, she could never picture herself in a loving relationship with the man. He wasn't that sweet or tender, those were things Hawke needed in a partner. She didn't want someone closed off emotionally like Fenris. She knew he was attracted to her when he complemented her at his mansion, but Hawke stayed neutral to the comment, not saying if she liked it or not. Hawke was never good at flirting and his compliment didn't help. Most boys in Lothering complimented her by telling she had a nice ass. Being called "capable" seemed just as romantic as the ass comments. She had punched those Lothering boys in the face, but that wouldn't help against Fenris. Besides Isabela already had her sights on him. Then again, Isabela had her sights on everyone.
One by one her companions arrived to engage in the game. When Merrill had arrived Carver had moved to give her a seat next to him. Hawke thought the secret torch Carver held for Merrill was adorable and Merrill always blushed in his presence. Maybe that was why Carver had rejected Isabela. He seemed very head over heels for Merrill at the moment and Hawke hoped they could work it out. She was a blood mage, but she meant well and Hawke was sure that with some kindness she could pull Merrill away from that lifestyle.
Then all of the sudden Hawke felt someone sit next to her. Oh Maker no! Her mind screamed. She didn't want to embarrass herself tonight. Why did he have to show up?
Anders had sat close to her at the table and joined the game. Hawke bit her lip from saying something stupid. Hawke had developed a crush on Anders from the first moment he had spun around in a dramatic fashion in his clinic. She was terrible with men and didn't even try to flirt with him for fear he found her ugly. There were her pick up lines… Dear Maker her pick up lines were horrible. She had thought of one when Anders was explaining his horrible situation and all Hawke could think was, "Well that explains the whole sexy tortured look." Thank the Maker she held her tongue and was diplomatic towards him instead of using her humor. He would not have taken well to it. The only people who liked it were Varric and Isabela.
Then she had said something about making decisions with a true heart and he had flirted with her. She had to use everything she had from keeping her cheeks from lighting on fire. She had never been called beautiful before, she was a young adult, but had stayed away from men altogether because of her mother and Peter. But she didn't even think about Peter when she saw Anders. Peter had never once called her beautiful or kind or wise. She had decided to flirt back telling him not to stop, but he had pushed her away with a warning of breaking her heart. Hawke had left the clinic completely humiliated and tried to stay away from him ever since. But it was so damn hard, she needed a healer because she couldn't heal at all and when Merrill healed it felt like fire was touching your skin. So he went almost everywhere with her and the awkwardness of their meeting faded away with Hawke deducing that he just wasn't into her. It was fine, she would get over it, but there were these moments when something in his eyes told her otherwise. She shook it off, deeming it her own silly imagination. Anders was a good friend and there was no need to spoil that. Even if he had a spirit in his mind it didn't seem to make him that dangerous to the people around him. Hawke had not seen an outbreak since that night in the Chantry.
Hawke drowned her fourth mug of ale, feeling the world start to spin around her. "I need to take a walk," She slurred. The fact that the world was spinning wasn't a good sign and she needed air. Hawke got up and tried to keep her footing as she walked out of Varric's Suite, but ended up passing out on her way out the door.
OOO
Carver was the first to run to her and after seeing she was still breathing, heaved a sigh of relief. She just drank too much; there was nothing wrong with her. After loosing Bethany, Carver could never know when someone you loved could be taken away from you.
"Are you alright?" A distressed voice asked below him.
He looked over to see that Anders had gotten down on his knees and was cradling Hawke gently in his arms. Carver hated the blasted mage for many reasons. The first was that he would never shut up about the mages, Carver much preferred Merrill's company for she spoke of Dalish legends or her time in Ferelden instead of the stupid mage plight. The man would never stop talking about it and yet his sister was always doting on him. Carver saw the way her sister looked at that mage and thought nothing of it until he saw the way that mage looked at her. The desire that burned in Anders beady eyes sent a flare of overprotectiveness through Carver. The last thing he needed was an abomination breaking his sister's heart. After Peter he never wanted to see his sister crumpled up on the ground crying her eyes out again.
Hawke's eyes fluttered opened and looked at Anders. A goofy smile spread over her face. "I'm fine… I just…" She promptly turned over to her side and threw up. Isabela chuckled.
"You're fine, just a bit tipsy," Anders said.
Hawke giggled. "You are to kind. Tipsy does not even begin to describe it." She tried to get up, but fell right back into Anders' arms. "I should get home… Mother will be worried."
"What about Gamlen?" Merrill asked. Merrill was only one who felt sympathy towards Gamlen. She would often stop by his house to deliver food for him. Carver realized that Merrill had put her hand on his arm and he felt a blush spread through him.
Caver had first seen Merrill on the hill by Sundermount crouched over a strange object. At first he found her odd and then outright dangerous when she had used blood magic. He was ready to cut her down right then and there when Hawke had stopped him. When Merrill came to join their party Carver had become furious calling Hawke a blood magic supporter. Hawke had said that if he got to know her he would like her. Well Hawke was right, as always. Carver started showing up to her house to speak and Merrill was more than happy when he came around. Most of his companions couldn't stand the sight of Merrill. Isabela and Varric were the only one's who looked past her blood magic and they treated her like a little sister. Carver found himself growing a liking to Merrill and then that was even growing. He would blush around her and say stupid things. He hadn't acted like that since his Lothering days with Peaches.
"Gamlen can sod off," Hawke said. Then with Anders help she got to her feet. "Can you walk me home?" She asked him.
"I umm…" The mage's face went completely white and his hands trembled. Carver was going to puke. "Of course."
"Carver?" He heard from behind him. He turned to face Merrill who looked at him with her big green eyes. "I lost my ball of twine again, could you help me find my way home?"
Carver could have sworn when he saw Varric wink. Maker help me, Carver thought as Merrill took his arm they walked out of The Hanged Man.
OOO
When Fenris had left in his usual broodiness, Isabela and Varric were alone. As soon as the last patrons of The Hanged Man left Varric and Isabela burst out laughing. Isabela laughed till tears rolled down her cheeks and Varric had to clutch the sides of his chair for support.
"Did you see them?" Isabela said when she caught her breath. "Hawke is hopelessly in love Anders and he can't even form a proper sentence around her."
"Do you think that's bad? What about Junior and Daisy? She obviously likes him and he doesn't have the guts to tell her anything."
Isabela chuckled. "I do feel sorry for them."
Varric leaned back in his chair. "I have an idea."
"Oh, do tell!"
"All four of them are too scared to actually say they like each other. Why don't we help them?"
"Ah, Varric I had no idea you were a romantic."
"I'm a storyteller Rivaini. Storytellers and romantics go hand in hand."
Isabela raised an eyebrow at Varric's unintentional innuendo and he rolled his eyes. Isabela stuck out her hand.
"Varric Tethras, Paragon of Manliness. I swear on my new ship, which has yet to arrive that I will help our friends find a good romp or something more."
Varric shook her hand. The deal was set.
