Disclaimer: Rated M for language, violence and some sexual content. I do not own anything it all belongs to Bioware from Dragon Age II!
Chapter 1: So What's A Year
It's a dark starless night in Kirkwall's Hightown, two dark figures wait in the shadows of the courtyard, to the richest estates in the city. One of the figures a tall muscular man with steel gray eyes, turns to the woman next to him and mutters "perfect night to get ambushed."
"And you wish we were doing the ambushing" she smirked, regarding her companion who is handsomely tanned despite their work primarily taking place at night. Always one to prefer the killing to the protecting and who could blame him the nobleman they were escorting to his ship had been suspected of selling slaves, having had to pay handsomely for the protection of the Red Iron, Meeran would've seen to that. With a sigh Rynn leans back against a pillar it had been a long day. A long week, a long year.
Actually, not a year. Eleven months, since we were allowed into Kirkwall and put into servitude.
"Relax Haldmar, I thought you liked killing" Rynn joked pulling her cowl up to cover her face, knowing little about him other than how good he is at hitting where and when it hurts most, exposing vulnerabilities and his cold calculation in the fight. which has proved more than helpful on their various jobs. Maybe he could teach me a few things were he so inclined.
After waiting for what seemed like hours, but was probably more like minutes a tall slender man dressed in the best Kirkwall finery approached them with 2 heavily armed men. "Only 2" he exclaimed with a worried look on his arrogant face.
"What were you expecting, a mercenary orgy" Rynn coughed
"HAWKE" Haldmar exclaimed.
"I didn't pay you to talk you stinking dog lord and you better be worth the price, I expect to get to my ship in one piece with my guards." the nobleman spat. Haldmar turned and began to lead the noble and his guards toward the bridge to Lowtown, Hawke covering the rear biting her tongue.
As they approached the docks a group of large armed men blocked their way, their leader stepping towards Haldmar who had put a few steps between himself and the 'cargo'. Rynn stepped over to stand beside her companion, noticing there were 5 men and 2 archers. Bethany who had been following at a distance and was still hidden, would take out the archers in the event a fight did break out, which chances were was going to be soon,. That left the 2 rogues like them and a swordsman who would no doubt put up a good fight.
"Give us the noble and you won't have any trouble" the leader sneered.
"it's too bad I like trouble" Rynn answered.
The leader turned his attention toward her noticing that she was fairly tall and slightly curved even under her shapeless leather cuirass. "Well then after we kill your friend and your cargo I'll be sure to show you some" he leered at her signaling his men to attack and unsheathing his claymore he advanced on her.
The first archer was down frozen in place like a statue before he had the chance to notch an arrow; the second had enough time to lose an arrow at Haldmar which caught him in the top of the shoulder slowing him before he assassinated the rogue he had been fighting.
Rynn rushed the rogue knocking him over and giving her time to quickly backstab the other bigger warrior who although shocked at her speed didn't seem to notice the blood spilling from his wound on to her dagger and as she pulled it out of his back spraying across her body, she dodged his lethargic swing and followed with an explosive strike which earned her the kill and more blood to cover her arms.
Meanwhile the rogue having gotten back up snuck in behind Rynn and stabbed her through the right shoulder as she pulled away from the warrior's corpse just in time to hear Haldmar yell "Hawke" as he rushed to finish him off, but it was too late as the rogue pulled his blade from her shoulder she could feel the blood drip down her chest and back like thick sweat.
Haldmar came toward her concerned that she's lost too much blood but she laughs it off as only a flesh wound, in any case it isn't as bad as his in addition to taking an arrow in his shoulder he's also singed his arms from getting too close to the archer Bethany had set on fire, and the burns look bad. Which Bethany immediately notices and exclaims oh no I did that to you, Haldmar assuring her that she didn't hit him he just got to close to the one that was already on fire, this calming making her feel better, sweet Bethany never wants to hurt anyone.
"Ah Thera….I liked this job better when we were just the back up and didn't have to kill people" Bethany whined Rynn laughed, she knows Bethany means it, working as a mercenary was never going to be easy on Bethany, but working for Athenrial wasn't an option either, the slim Elf was slippery and you couldn't predict whereas Leering Meeran as terrible mercenary work was for Bethy at least Rynn could predict Meeran. Because of their success they had been given the bigger jobs.
At least my Bethy in unscathed
"There's a healer in the undercity," said Haldmar. Bethany is avoiding looking at her sister now. She's unnerved by blood, especially when that blood is Rynn's, and if Haldmar is suggesting a healer, then there must be a lot of blood.
"It's not that bad I Promise, he only got me once" Rynn said forcing a laugh "besides we have a job to finish, you go Bethy and I can handle it"
"Promise me you'll have it looked at before I see you again, all right? I know how you are."
"That depends. Will I be seeing you soon?" She shifts to peer up at him through messy Bangs that are now plastered to her face with sweat her cowl had slipped from her face and head during the fight.
"I...," a smile crosses his lips. "I hope so."
Another sarcastic grin is all he receives in return. He must find it a satisfactory response because he turns away to go see the healer.
Rynn turned to the noble declaring "See worth every copper" they escorted the noble to the ship docked in the next row.
"Do you really like him, Thera?" Bethany joins her on the dock. "of course not but I wasn't going to kill him Meeran would be so pissed and we already owe him a month I'm not adding more time onto… she trails off as she realises Bethy is talking about Haldmar and she decides to not answer her sister's question. She doesn't know if she really likes the steel gray eyed tanned faced assassin or if she's just flattered by his attention, or just likes the thought of his hands on her… Rynn shakes her head and they set to the gory task of cleaning up. Looting because Meeran didn't pay well as they already owed him the year, after the girls took what valuables they could find With practiced precision, the Hawke sisters swing the dead man out and into the water, the splash from his impact coating their boots in saltwater.
"One down, four to go," Bethany wipes her hands together, almost absentmindedly, and Rynn realizes they are coated in blood.
As the sun began to rise the sisters made their way to the Lowtown market which despite the early hours was abuzz with activity, which Rynn hates at the best of times, let alone in the wee hours of the morning while she's covered in blood and exhausted. But it's important that they sell their loot before they return home as their mother barley approves of their current profession let alone looting bodies, she might never let Bethany out again.
After selling their loot they make their way toward the Alley leading to Gamlen's hovel which they unfortunately have been calling home for the past 11 months, Rynn Leaning on Bethany for support.
"Makers breath Thera" Bethany breathes, "Mother is going to kill us for coming home looking like this"
"No, mother is going to kill me for letting you half carry me home like this"
"Your delirious" Bethany giggles "and right"
"Hawke" the voice startles both women although Rynn doubts it has quite the same effect on Bethany as it does her.
"Haldmar" Rynn turns to face him and the world starts to spin.
"Thera!"
Two pairs of hands catch her and they both look her over with concern. "I knew you should have come with me" Haldmar exclaimed while pulling a vial out of his pack, "you're in luck see I told the Healer I had a friend who was too stubborn to go see a healer even though she'd taken a knife to the shoulder, so he gave me this"
He opens a container and Rynn can smell the warm scent of medicinal herbs, and the distinct aroma of a spring rain storm.
"mmmm" she breaths as she unbuckles her cuirass and slides it off her shoulder so that Bethany can get the mixture on. "I want to live in there."
"She's delirious," Bethany reasserts her earlier assessment, trying hard to not flinch at the sight of Rynn's injury and failing. "I can't…... Can you do this?"
Haldmar complies rubbing the mixture onto the wound. Rynn opens her eyes when the poultice seeps into the wound and then seems to suck the pain that had settled in most everywhere right out of her body.
"Potent, isn't it?" Haldmar finished, and he moved her shirt back to where it should be, his fingertips deliberately dragging along her throat as he does. Between him and the poultice, she's feeling less like falling over and more like... "I keep a room at The Sleeping Seamen. It's not too far from here, just past low town on the docks."
He speaks in a rush, too fast and too low for Bethany to catch and his hand is lingering close to her as is his hopeful smile when Rynn nods, not quite willing to confirm aloud what they'd just agreed to.
"Let me take Bethany home first, maybe wash off...oh. Some of the blood and gore. The rest will just have to be bandaged."
Home, and Leandra is exasperated at the state of her daughters and their clothing, blood stains are hard to wash out, she frets over Rynn's shoulder wound before commenting on the poultice. "It smells nice"
Leandra sweeping Rynn's bangs away from her face as her mouth turns down disapproving of the way her daughter wears her hair "you should be more careful Rynnthera, one of these days Bethany will try to save you and…."
"Did I bet money on that Bethy?" Rynn laughs as she looks over at her sister who has settled herself in a comfy chair on the corner of the room who shakes her head "I should have, mother you're so predictable"
"you know how I worry" Leandra says as her eyes mist over remembering, and Rynn feels the ach of guilt and wishes that for once she could keep her mouth shut. "And being here alone as Gamlen and Scruffy are out of town for a few more days, and seeing that Templar…"
"WHAT!" Rynn and Bethany both exclaim together Bethany heading for the closet with a false backing which Gamlen had made in the event he had to hide from one of his many debt collectors but would do the trick in the event the chantry or Templers ever came looking.
"Where and when, Mother," it takes Rynn three strides to cross the room and bar the door. "And what does he look like?"
Leandra describes the man as Rynn positions herself next to the door, which is where she'll stay, until Gamlen returns with Scruffy. Bethany tries to remind her about her promise to Haldmar, but she dismisses the idea with a scowl, "He'll understand," "And if he doesn't, then he's an ass." Rynn leans back and winces as her shoulder presses against the door frame. The poultice helps but is no cure; she'll still have to be careful until it's healed.
"Besides I'd be the worst sister in the world if I wandered off for..." Rynn rolls her eyes to avoid any awkwardness. "Besides, you're the only proof I have that I'm not completely terrible. I think even Mother would quit me if something happened to you."
"That's not true!" Leandra sounds genuinely hurt by this, so Rynn decides it best not to suggest another bet. Instead she slips into readiness, waiting for the slightest scrape of activity in the hallway beyond the door, or for the scent of Chantry incense and sweat soaked undergarments to waft through the cracks in the door.
It's one thing for the Templars to catch them out in the streets, or in the market. But this is their home, and mages aren't supposed to have homes and people they love that love them in return. They believe they should be locked up to keep themselves and everyone safe, but no one should be locked up and kept from family for an accident of birth.
Rynn keeps her daggers at her side ready for anything. Convinced of their safety, Leandra goes about her chores and Bethany prepares herself for bed. Normal routines for normal people, and one curious man in a metal suit could destroy it all.