It had taken weeks to cross and they grew tired and weary, Bethany ill from the motions of the ship. Aveline and Hawke practiced their boxing on the deck, hearing the catcalls of deck hands. But Hawke did not mind. She only wanted to keep Aveline's mind occupied and keep her body going. If that meant men leering at her, she would do it to see the look of amused concentration on Aveline's face.

When they managed to get to the city, Kirkwall was not all they had imagined. Leandra promised them titles and nobility, but instead, they were harassed and molested by the immigration staff. In order not to get separated, Aveline posed as the eldest sister and from then on, was known as Aveline Hawke.

They did manage to get into the city and after a night on the streets, they were finally taken into a women's shelter run by some of the lay sisters in the city. There was only one bed for the four of them and they huddled close to keep warm. Leandra kept phoning old numbers, trying to find Gamlen, and it was only after two days she managed to get a hold of him.

He met them on the steps of the shelter, a sister watching over anxiously as she swept the street in front of them. He told a sob story about his debts and bad investments. Bethany and Leandra felt sorry for him and offered to help work to pay for room and board. Aveline and Hawke both could smell a schemer and looked at each other in apprehension. But they had no choice. Fereldeners were no longer being granted neither amnesty nor refugee status now that the Blight was over. They would have to apply for work visas and in order to do so they needed to be making an income until Gamlen had enough to sponsor them. Aveline at first did not want to be a burden on the family, but Hawke convinced her to pool resources together. She was a young widow on the streets; she would have nothing to her name.

Bethany found work first, her typist skills allowing her to be a secretary in an investment firm in Hightown. She was bubbly and sweet, a ray of sunshine, it was easy for her to get forth in this new country.

Aveline finally was able to join the police squad, which had been difficult despite her position in Ferelden and her degree in criminal psychology. She had to do extra tests, worked twice as long hours, and constantly had her ass slapped. But it was the job she wanted and it helped put bread on the table. So she persevered. She always did.

But Hawke had much more trouble. She had not finished high school and there were few factories in the city that would hire a woman when so many men were out of work. After a month, she worried she would not find a job and be sent back to Ferelden. It was only an act of desperation that saved her. When members of a gang came trying to collect on Gamlen's debts, Hawke fought back, protecting the little money they had collected since arriving. She impressed the leader of the gang, who offered her work in order to pay off the debts. Having no choice, she accepted, despite Aveline's horror.

It was tough work, but Hawke had always been a good shot and no one suspected the petite girl with the pretty smile was packing heat. Still, Hawke did not want to be there. She was trying to finish her high school degree, which was difficult since her records had been destroyed in Ferelden and she hadn't picked up a textbook in over four years. She would sleep all day, go to night class, and then sneak out early on whatever task she was assigned.

Around eight months went by, the summer turning into fall into winter and slowly into spring. The five of them still lived in Gamlen's small apartment, Aveline and Bethany both at their jobs and Hawke barely paying off Gamlen's debts. Leandra had been sponsored already, but Hawke was close to not being able to stay in the country. She was attempting to apply for immigration, which was easier since her high school diploma was nearly done and a kind soul at the night school was helping her through all the paper work. A factory had also given her a morning shift, so she was back to making munitions, and only sleeping in the afternoons.

Things started to turn around though, one spring day. Hawke was at an outdoor café, enjoying a breakfast after a long evening smuggling lyrium out of the city. She had not eaten since before she had gone to school, and for once, she felt like she could afford it.

As she sipped her coffee, she saw a man bend down as if to tie his shoes, but grabbed and snatched her purse and ran.

"Hey!" Hawke yelled, standing up and running after him. She pulled her gun out of the holster in her coat and shot the man in the hip. He fell down in the street. She ran towards him and he tried to get up to run away. She picked him up and slammed him against the wall of a town house and pointed her gun at his forehead. He dropped the purse and she let him go.

"Thanks," she smiled, "Now I think you better get going."

She walked back to the café as he ran off. Smiling to herself, she went back to her table, taking out cash to pay for her bill. There was already money on the table and a folded piece of paper. She unfolded it, and saw a quick sketch of herself, dressed in ridiculous futuristic clothing, pointing what seemed to be a laser gun at an alien with her purse. She laughed and saw the address scribbled on the bottom.

She looked at her watch. It wouldn't be long until her factory shift, but the address was in Lowtown, a bar she had been to a few times. She could always get a cab if she was running late. She had a feeling this would be worth her while.

oOoOoOo

She dusted off her skirt as she came into the bar, fixing her hair as she entered. Women in mini skirts passed her around the arms of a lanky elf who winked at her as she passed by. Blushing, Hawke pulled out the piece of paper and scanned the room for someone who could have drawn it. She heard someone clearing their throat and she saw a dwarf smiling at her in the corner. He had long unkempt hair, small wire rimed glasses, and an open white dress shirt, revealing quite a bit of chest hair. He was clean shaved, unlike most dwarves she had ever seen. She walked over, holding out the piece of paper.

"I think I was wearing more clothes than that this morning," she said, sitting down in the booth beside him.

He laughed and stretched out his hand, "I'm Varric."

"Hawke."

"I thought that's who you were," Varric said, motioning to a waitress to bring them drinks, "There's not many women in this town who could have handled a shot so well. I've heard of your work. Oh don't be coy. I know many of my associates might think a woman's place is in the kitchen, but I've seen what your gender can do."

"What was with the doodle?"

"A way of introducing myself. I like to write science fiction stories on the side, I'm always looking for a new hero. I rather like the idea of a woman who knows how to handle herself."

Hawke smiled as the waitress came by with a pitcher, "It's rather early for a drink, isn't it?"

"I have the feeling you haven't gone to bed yet, Hawke," Varric said, "And the truth is, I haven't yet either. So why not?"

They drank quietly together for a few moments until Hawke looked up at the dwarf.

"So what can I do for you, Varric?"

"I'm looking for a business partner," he said, "I'm mounting an expedition. Well, my brother and I are. We're looking for a financier and a fighter. You're definitely the latter of the two."

"I'm flattered," she said, "Don't you think he might find my gender a liability?"

He laughed, "All he cares about is the size of your pockets. It's alright if you don't have the cash, you can get it."

"So what's this expedition?" She asked, leaning back into the booth.

"Nothing illegal, which I'm sure will be a pleasant change for you," he said, "Treasure hunt, really. There's a Thiag in the Deep Roads we have a map to. Establishing the trail alone would be a fortune, but finding the relics there? We'll be rich."

Hawke raised an eyebrow, "This sounds a little too good to be true."

Varric said, shrugging, "It is. We need a reliable team. And we need funds. It'll be dangerous, dark, and over all unpleasant. But it can make us wealthy. And it seems to me there aren't many opportunities for a woman like you to make a living, am I right?"

Hawke bowed her head, taking another drink, "You have me there."

"So join me," Varric said, putting on his jacket, "I have a room upstairs. You probably have to get away to your legitimate job soon. You strike me as a woman who doesn't have much time to sleep. And not for any pleasant reasons."

Hawke blushed slightly, "I better go, you're right. I'll think about it."

"Here," Varric said, handing her over a book.

"What is this?" she asked, holding it up to see an illustration of a busty woman fighting a fierce monster with only her hands.

"One of my novels," Varric said grinning, "Can't say it's good, but it'll give you something to read on the bus."

She laughed, "You seem to have me all figured out, dwarf."

"I do my research, Hawke," Varric said, as he stood, offering his hand to help her to her feet, "I make my investments carefully."