Chapter Two

It's been nearly a year since we've came to Kirkwall. My siblings are no longer working for Athenril, but now we have another problem... Bethany. It's not her fault, it's because she's an apostate and we don't have Athenril's protection from the templars or The Circle anymore. However Garret and Carver said that they are trying convincing a Dwarf called Bartrand to hire them for an expedition to The Deep Roads, they said if they can get on this expedition we won't have to live in Lowtown anymore and Bethany will be safe.

"Your Birthday is next week. What would you like?" Mother asked. I had forgotten about my birthday, it seemed trivial compared to all the problems we're currently facing.

"I don't know mother." however knowing my mother she won't be satisfied until I give her an answer. "How about a cake?" Cake is the best part of a Birthday after all.

"Just a cake? Are you sure love?" She asked sceptically. I nodded.

"There isn't anything I need mother, besides who doesn't love cake?" I smiled at her. She's trying her best to make sure we live happily despite the circumstances.

She smiled at me and pulled me in to an embrace. "I'm sorry love, but things will be different soon." I gave a low chuckle; no matter what we do something always seems to knock us down again, although it's nice to hope.

It was sundown by the time the others came home, however they brought someone else with them. "The name's Varric kid." he grinned at me and extended his hand. I have never saw a beardless dwarf before. "It's nice to meet you Varric, my name's Elise." I took his hand. "Well looks like one of the Hawke siblings has manners." he mused. I giggled, because my siblings' excluding Bethany of course, always came across as either too blunt or they make smart remarks.

They explained that Varric was Bartrand's brother and that he wanted them to become partners instead of hired muscle. Just like everything in life there was a catch. They had to find fifty sovereigns. "That's a lot of coin, brother..." I stated worriedly. Any normal person would be worried, but not Garret. It's weird, when I'm around him it's like all our problems don't exists anymore. That night the whole house was filled with laughter, Varric telling is exaggerated stories and Garret and Carver rivalry banter. It was days like this that the idea of hope flourished.

The next day me, mother and Gamlen were left in the house while everyone else was looking for a former Grey Warden. I don't understand why a Grey Warden would be here former or otherwise. Although strange things tend to happen a lot in Kirkwall.

I am tired of staying in the house so I've decided to explore the city a bit more. "Mother! I'm going out." she looked at me curiously, but said nothing other than "Okay dear. Please be home before sundown."

Where haven't I been...? I've seen everything there is too see in Lowtown and Hightown is to snobby for my taste and Darktown is too depressing... so I guess that leaves the Docks and the gallows, but there is no way I'm going anywhere near the gallows without my eldest brother. To the Docks I go!

Once I reached the Docks I noticed the giants everyone has been talking about. And true to the rumour they are giants! They towered over everyone! I decide to observe them; I don't think their bad like everyone thinks, because everyone calls us Fereldans bad too. I think it's because we're different from them, people don't like things different from them. It's a sad fact of life.

After observing them for about two hours I got bored. Don't they do anything other than stand there and snarl? Maybe if I talk to them they'd look less hostile. So I mustered up my courage and said "Hello." They didn't even acknowledge me... "HEY! Don't ignore me!" time for pleasantries is over. "What basra?" he growled. I have a suspicious feeling that 'basra' is an insult.

"I have a name, ya know! It's Elise." I don't know why I'm getting so angry.

"You and your kind are basra and nothing more." I think I found out why he as making me so angry, it's because he's looking down at me. Not in the physical sense which everyone has too, but in the sense on worth.

"What does basra mean? If you insist on calling me it, I want to know what it means." He scoffed at me when I said this... Rude much!

"It means thing. A thing without purpose." okay, rude!

"I do too have a purpose!" he looked amuse when I said this

"What is your purpose then" another giant asked looking amused also.

"To protect those who are important to me." That's my purpose, I will protect my family. The giants on the other hand looked at me as if I had said the funniest thing in the world.

"You are neither a solider nor a healer. How will you protect them?" I clenched my fist so tight that I began to bleed. "I'll get stronger..." I whispered. This caught there attention. "I'll get stronger, so that one day I'll be able to protect them!" I yelled at them.

"We shall see imekari." again with the foreign language...

"What does word mean?"

"It means child." Rude! I may not be full grown, but I am no child.

"I admit I may not be fully grown yet, however I am no child." I grumbled and stormed off.

As I was leaving the Docks I heard them talking amongst themselves. "What an odd Bas imekari."

I'll show them! Tomorrow I'm going to come down again and prove to them that I'm not a child and that I'll be able to protect my family. Stupid giants.

End of Chapter Two.

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