Welcome to Chapter 2!
Had a few issues with posting this chapter simply because I have no clue what I am doing.
But anyways...
I don't own anything yada yada yada
Now go enjoy the next chapter!
My name was shouted across the tavern.
"Hawke!"
I jumped to my feet a spun around with cat like quickness. My sudden movement caused Rusco to jump to his feet in alarm with his ears pushed to his head and ready for whatever was to come.
I glanced around the tavern quickly looking for a threat when I noticed a familiar face. It was a woman with short black hair and piercing blue eyes. Her moves were sluggish and her eyes heavy. She was drunk.
It can't be.
The man who yelled was moving towards the woman and she wouldn't be able to move quick enough to protect herself. Her friends surrounding her moving just as sluggishly. The man pressed a dagger to the woman's throat and everything froze.
"You think you Fereldon scum can traipse all over Kirkwall and disrupt my business! I will have your hide for this Hawke!"
I moved quickly, without thinking. My daggers in hand, Rusco moving quick and quiet at my side. I yanked the man backwards making him stumble head first over the table behind him. Rusco and I took up position in front of the woman.
Not just any woman. My sister.
Rusco was letting out a low threatening growl, bearing his teeth. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he knew who I was protecting and who was the threat. I can always count on Rus.
The man clambered to his feet with a dagger in his hand.
"Another sodding Fereldan." He spit and charged me.
I ducked under his dagger while simultaneously twisting my body and his dagger hand behind him. I put pressure on his wrist till he dropped his weapon. I kicked it to Rusco and he put a paw on it growling while I pressed one of my daggers to the mans throat. It all happened in mere seconds.
"Threaten my family again and I will have your head on a pike as I had Loghains." I threw the man to the floor a few feet away from me and glared. "Run back to darktown and lick your wounds. I don't want to see you again."
My threat and Rusco slowly stalking towards him got the man up and out of the Hanged Man quicker than I thought he could move. I slid my daggers back into their place and patted Rusco on the head when he pranced over to me with his tongue rolling out to the side. He was proud of himself and it caused me to chuckle. Conceited little mutt.
It was only after I reached down for the mans forgotten dagger and inspecting its shoddy workmanship that I felt eyes staring at me. The tavern had went back to normal after the man fled, but it was the eyes of my sister and her band of misfits that I felt.
I glanced up at her and gave her a shy smile while scratching the back of my neck. "Hello Mar."
I was suddenly engulfed by the shaking arms of my twin. I buried my head in her neck and tried to hold in my sob.
Marians voice was shaky. "Lex."
She only said my name and the tears started flowing. She pulled away and matching tears were on her face.
"I thought you were dead." We both said at the sametime. It caused us to smile in remembrance and relief. We had practiced talking at the same time when we were younger and it was nice to know although years had passed and some things had changed, not everything had.
We embraced again and didn't let go until a slight cough and the call of "Hawke" caused us both to turn and utter "What?" with cocked eyebrows.
It was a dwarf with a glorious head of blonde hair and a impressive hairy chest. The dwarf cocked an eyebrow and chuckled lightly at our actions.
"I think we should move this to my room. There is eyes and ears everywhere and I think this unexpected reunion should happen without stranger eyes."
I glanced around and saw nearly every eye on the two of us. Rusco didn't like it much either for he bristled and growled lowly at the closest patrons.
Mar grabbed my hand and dragged me to a nice little room that I assume is the dwarfs. I glanced around noticing small things but I was quickly brought out of my inspection by my sister wrapping her arms around me again. I squeezed her back tightly and then pulled away and smiled brightly at her. I hear the dwarf ask the bar maid to bring a new round of drinks for everyone.
"Sit." Mar ordered and I practically fell into the seat behind me in exhaustion. The adrenaline of the fight and the reuniting of my sister was wearing off and since I still hadn't fully recovered from the war, it hit me hard. It caused Rusco to whimper and lay his head in my lap. I absentmindedly scratched his head while trying to avoid my sisters eyes.
It was silent until the bar maid brought our drinks and I inwardly cringed when I reached for mine still tasting the forgotten ale I left at the bar on my tongue. I took a quick gulp and smiled lightly at the taste of the smooth wine as it sailed over my tongue. I glanced up at the dwarf and he smirked knowingly. Our staring was interrupted by Mar.
She had moved a chair right next to mine and she was leaning forwards. We were inches apart.
"Are you OK Lex?"
I sighed heavily and gave her a weak smile. "A lot has happened since I left home to join the kings army."
She cocked an eyebrow, but it must have been a twin thing because she didn't push. She just glanced down at Rusco and cooed."Who is this gorgeous boy?"
Rusco cocked one ear towards her and let the other flop down on his head. His tongue slid out one side of his mouth as he smiled at my sister.
I smirked as I spoke. "This is my loyal Mabari, Rosco. He has been at my side since Ostagar." A twinge went through my heart when I uttered that name. I suspect everyone noticed. In fact I'm sure because the next words were spoken by the dwarf and they had a sense of consolation to it.
"Well normally I wouldn't let a mutt into my home." I cocked an eyebrow at him and Rusco turned and yipped an indignant bark. "But such a loyal companion owes as much respect as the next." The dwarfs smile warmed when I gave him a small shy smile of thanks.
Marian chuckled. "Let me introduce you!"
The introductions were quick and my sister only told me their names. There was a reason she only gave me their names. She was testing me. When we were alone she would question what I knew about them. While mages run in my family, I am not one, but I am gifted. I have keen insight. I can look at a person and know them. I won't know their deepest secrets, but I can hazard a guess and get close. I can tell what kind of person they are, their beliefs, their preferences. If they are speaking the truth or not.
It's not the only thing I can do, but is the most useful.
My sister pointed at the blonde mage, Anders who smiled politely at me. He was nervous. Curious. He was a healer, but their was a darkness to him, but it wasn't always there. It was once the purest of light and somehow it was twisted and warped into a darker form. My eyes narrowed at the slight blaze of electric blue in his eyes. A challenge. But then His eyes widened as if he realized what I saw and confusion filled his aura. I would watch him. Something didn't sit right with me when he was around.
Then there was the Rivani pirate. Her clothing of choice pointed that out to me quickly. She was dark skinned and gorgeous. She smirked at me and dragged her gaze down my body. I smirked back enjoying the appreciation in her eyes. She was free with her affections, but not her heart. She's been hurt. Badly. She is secretive, but loyal when someone deserves it. I can see she is hiding something important. It's in her eyes. A heaviness, a guilt, wariness.
The little blood mage Merill. My gift pointed out that darkness the second I looked at her. While blood magic is the worst kind of magic, I see innocence in her eyes. A naiveté. She was young. Not age wise, but in life. She smiled widely at me and waved enthusiastically. She was bouncing in her seat and changing glances between Rusco and I. I suspect she would have exploded if it wasn't for the gentle hand of Isabella that distracted her. The gentleness of the pirate only proved my impression of her.
Then there was the mysterious white haired elf with the lyrium markings. I'm not a mage, but the lyrium in his veins pulled at me. Fenris. Little wolf. He was shut off. Walls so high even I couldn't climb over it with my mind. I frowned as I looked into his eyes. He lost part of himself and what's left is broken. He is beaten down, tormented, afraid. But he is healing and if the way he looks at my sister is any indication, Marian is the main catalyst for his repair.
The last in the room was the dwarf. Varric. He smiled and nodded at me in a very roughish way. His strong jaw, amazing chest, and the openness of his smile where utterly distracting. So distracting that my reading of him wasn't as well as the others. I knew he was a rouge with a silver tongue. Quick wit. Accepting and hard to anger. That's as much as I could get. His smirk grew minutely, but I caught it and looked away quickly. I had stared for too long and I had to fight my blush down.
He spoke with a smooth drawl while looking at Marian. "You never said you had a twin Hawke. I didn't even know you had another sibling besides Sunshine and the Kid."
I cocked an eyebrow. He likes nicknames. The only way I'll find out who this dwarf really is by getting to know him like anyone else would do and it is grating.
My sister reaches over and grabs my unoccupied hand. The other was clenched around my wine in either aggravation at my gift or as a way to anchor myself so I don't fall out of the chair in exhaustion, It's anyone's guess.
"I thought she was dead." Her hand tightened in mine. "I didn't want to talk about it. I didn't want to think about it. I was close to Bethany and Carver, but Lex is my twin. I felt as if I lost part of myself." She looks at me now. "I can't believe your here sister."
My eyes widen suddenly and Mar gives me a curious look.
"Where are Bethany and Carver? Mother?"
She takes her hand back slowly and looks away from me. My chest gets heavy and my exhaustion climaxes along with my anxiety. I don't think I can handle this.
Marian clears her throat and we look directly in each others eyes.
"Mother and Carver are fine. They're here. But Bethany..."She pauses and I swallow thickly. "Bethany didn't make it out of Fereldan."
Tears were in both of our eyes now, but we didn't let them fall. If I let them fall now, they won't stop until my exhaustion takes over and I pass out. I gathered up the shattered pieces of my heart, wrapped my pride around me like and emotional shield and spoke in a clipped and demanding town. One my sisters never heard by the look in her eyes.
"Take me to them."
Mars eyes are wide as she stands swiftly from the chair and grabs her staff that she had put by the door. I nodded to the other occupants of the room. Anders had pity in his eyes. I wanted to hit him. Merill had tears in hers. Isabella was looking at the table. Fenris was staring at my sister with longing. I wanted to hit him too. It was Varrics eyes that gave me pause though. THere was no pity. No sadness. Just understanding. I let my gratefulness show in my eyes and he nodded slightly.
I spun quickly around, the cloak I was wearing billowing out behind me. Marian leading the way and Rusco at my side, we moved silently out of The Hanged Man. Everyone moved out of our way and no one dared step out to confront us as we made our way to wherever Mother and Carver where. The Hawke twins were officially reunited and of one mind at the moment. My sister and I have always been a force to be reckoned with. Especially when the rest of our family was involved and our current mission was the most important one I had been on. To see my mother and little brother again. The ones I had convinced myself were dead.
The air is shifting. The balance of the world shifting. My sister can feel it for her steps become more confident, more commanding. I glide by her side graceful and prowling.
I hear Flemeths words in the wind. A mere whisper, but a reminder of her power, her knowledge, and my fate.
"The ground will shake where you walk."
I smirk.
Even a pebble can make waves.
