A/N: I fully intend to bring all my "Possibilities" stories into one long chapter story, I'd prefer is to be a linear tale, not episodic. And currently the muses see fit to bounce me around the tale.
Disclaimer: DragonAge is owned by Bioware, I just like it here.
It was a bright and sunny day in the Dwarven District of Hightown, and final preparations were being made for the caravan to head into the Deep Roads. Varric had always prided himself on his sense of observation. His ability to notice that which his story subjects may not want him to see had started to become a trademark; it's what made him a good storyteller. Currently Varric had three groups to watch: Blondie, looking smug that Hawke had chosen him to go along, Elf, hovering close to the Hawke family, not wanting to interrupt but secretly wishing her to pick him, and the Hawke family trio.
The family seemed to be deep in a frantic argument, mother Hawke desperately trying to convince her daughter not to bring Junior to the Deep Roads. Varric watched, knowing with dread that mama bird was not going to get her way this time. Hawke knew she could only bring two people with, and though her healing skills had improved with Blondie's help, his abilities were still much better. Added to that fact his ability to sense darkspawn as a Gray Warden, he was a natural choice. She knew she needed a good sword next and though mama bird had dragged Fenris here, hoping to convince her daughter to take him, instead of her other child, Varric already knew from the set in Hawke's shoulders that she had made her choice: her brother. It was only a matter of time before mama bird gave in, and let the two leave the crappy Lowtown nest.
Varric couldn't help but muse at the change between the two of them these past several months while they had gathered coin for the expedition. At first, he could see the tension between the two of them right from the first moment he saw them talking with Bartrand. Now, Junior seemed more relaxed, knowing his sister trusted his judgment and let him "step out of her shadow, once in a while." Varric wouldn't say they were friends, per say, but definitely heading in that direction.
Varric continued to watch the scene unfold, knowing it wasn't his place to step in and mediate but wishing they could get underway before the sun reached it's zenith. He switched his gaze to Blondie, watching the troubled mage while he waited for them to move out. Varric could tell that Blondie was smug in being chosen by Hawke, but he could tell more was beginning to form as well. Both Elf and Blondie seemed to gravitate toward Hawke, and it was funny to watch the awkward love triangle starting to form, especially when Hawke was so oblivious to the attention.
Blondie's rapt attention he could understand, but the elf's interest…that one gave him pause. Sure, Hawke was beautiful, witty, smart, even empathetic, but she was still a mage and an apostate at that, something the elf claimed to detest. Paired with the fact their differing opinions on the treatment of mages and the circle, they usually argued more than agreed. It perplexed him, but he would always continue to watch the drama unfold with a smile, a ready joke and mediate when the need arose and Hawke wasn't around to step in.
Varric knew from the first moment he actually saw her, and not just hearing the stories, that Hawke was a force to be reckoned with and he found himself chuckling.
"Oh Hawke, you're going to make one hell of a story."
