Leandra Hawke didn't know what to say as she prepared breakfast. Her sons arrived the night before with a petite little girl and announced that she was going to be staying with them. Leandra didn't know whether she was more suprised by her sons bringing in a woman or by the little griffon that she held. She remembered a story that Malcolm had told her once, several days before he died. He told her about a griffon rider. She laughed at him then and told him that that was impossible.
"Can I help you with anything?" Anya's voice yanked Leandra back to reality.
"That's alright dear, why don't you go set the table up?" Leandra smiled at the young girl.
"Sure thing." Anya gave her a warm smile and rushed around their small area to set the table nicely.
What a charming young lady. Leandra finished preparing breakfast.
Hawke just woke up and spotted his mother cooking and Anya setting the table.
"Mother?"
"Hmmm?"
"Do you think I should just marry her? You both look like contented ladies right now." Anya tripped and grabbed a chair causing it to tilt and fall.
"Ouch. Is it that appaling to be married to me?" Hawke helped Anya back on her feet.
Anya snorted. "Ah I'm so flattered. Such a romantic proposal too bad a darkspawn beat you to it. Not to mention that he was better than you. He even handed me a bouquet of wilted flowers."
Leandra laughed at the friendly banter. She was happy that her son found the young lady amusing.
"Maker, why does it smell like rotten cabbages?" Anya said as they were walking around in Lowtown.
"Because we're in Lowtown, Boots." Hawke laughed.
They were on their way to ask Varric and Isabela to accompany them in darktown to sneak inside the Amell's estate since Carver was helping Leandra do the chores today.
"You say that as if that explains everything." Anya huffed.
"Hawke!" A voice called out near the Hanged Man. It was Isabela and beside her was a happy looking Varric.
Maker, lock picking does get them very excited doesn't it? Hawke and Anya approached the two.
They were passing the bakery when Anya spotted an urchin begging for bread. The shop owner just shooed the poor boy away.
Well that doesn't look right. Hmmm. Let's see. Anya looked for the baker.
"Boots?" Hawke wondered why Anya suddenly stopped walking.
"Just wait here. I'll be right back." Anya walked to the back of the shop where the baker was.
Hawke followed her but stayed a few paces away, Isabela and Varric did the same.
"Excuse me." Anya waved at the baker.
"Need anything serah?" The baker asked as Anya approached.
"Will you give me two buns if I tell you how to make a fruit and raisin bun?" She asked bluntly.
The baker rubbed his chin thoughtfully and smiled.
"Depends if the buns taste good."
"Done. Now go get your dough." Anya instructed. Hawke leaned on the wall as he watched. Once again he wondered what she was planning.
"Here you go." The baker placed a handful of dough in front of Anya.
Anya opened a pouch on her hip and produced dried fruit. "Do you have some raisins?"
"I think so. Hold on- ah here." The baker handed her a jar of raisins.
Anya started to knead the dough, slowly incorporating some fruit and raisins as she does.
"Now just twist it like this and bake it until it's puffed up." Anya placed the twisted dough inside the oven.
"You're quite skilled young lady."
"You'll be surprised how much things you could do with plain ol' flour and eggs."
"Besides bread?"
"Yeah, have you ever tried pasta?"
"Pasta?" The baker's eyebrows shot up.
"They are thin and soft and they taste good with tomato sauce and cheese." Anya's mouth watered a little as she remembered the dish that her mother used to make.
"Ah it's done!" The baker exclaimed while pulling out the cooked loaf. He sliced a piece and took a bite. His eyes lit up.
"This is wonderful! Sissie!" He called out to the woman who was yelling at the little urchin before. "Look at this young lady's face. You see? Keep her in mind and you give her any bread she wants you hear?" He announced.
"Ugh. I think that's too much though, I can pay for it."
"Nonsense. It's not for free! Now next time you come here, you teach me how to make that- what do you call that? Ah that pasta." He took another bite.
Hawke chuckled. He couldn't believe this girl even if he tried.
"No problem! Err, sorry I didn't get your name messere."
"It's Massimo to you young lady." The baker grinned and patted Anya's head.
"Thanks again for the bread Massimo." Anya walked back to where Hawke and the others were. "Oh and I'm Anya by the way!"
"Have a good day then little Anya." the baker laughed.
"You're a very weird girl, Princess." Varric stated lightly as she approached them.
"One last thing." Anya jogged to where the urchin boy was playing with other kids.
"Hey kid."
The boy looked up and approached her.
The boy looked nervous. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Nah. Breakfast?" Anya handed the boy the buns. The boy's eyes grew huge as he held the still warm buns.
"Really messere? Thank you very much!" The boy ran back to share his food with his playmates.
Anya smiled and went back to Hawke.
"Thought you'd never be done."
"Sorry Bela. Sometimes I just can't help it." Anya shrugged.
"Don't say sorry princess. If you were in Orzammar they would've made you the paragon of bread. Or maybe the paragon of urchins. Whichever floats their boat." Varric chuckled.
"Maybe I should marry you." Hawke whispered as he hugged her from behind. Anya couldn't help but blush at the way his breath tickled her neck.
"Oh look! She's blushing." Isabela exclaimed.
"I am not." Anya sauntered off and stopped when nobody was following her.
Anya rolled her eyes. "Yes, make fun of the innocent girl. Now are we going to break in someone's estate or not?"
Hawke and the others laughed as they followed Anya while she stomped her way around Lowtown.
"Hmmm. Torn trousers. Broken sword. Decomposing stu– ugh what is that? I don't even– ugh." Hawke heard Anya muttering as she was rummaging through the chests. They cleared out more than two dozens of slavers when they broke into the Amell's cellar and now they were looking around the vault for his grandparent's will.
Anya digged around some more and saw a rolled up letter. Hmmm. Now what is this? Anya started to read the letter. Oh this is- I'll have to check this out when we go to the gallows. She rummaged some more and finally found the will.
"Bingo!" She threw the will at Hawke.
Hawke caught it effortlessly and grinned.
"Great job everyone. Now let's go salvage some more stuff and leave. This place is giving me the creeps." Hawke pretended to shiver.
"Hey Hawke. Let's sell these in the Gallows." Anya waved a hand in the general direction of their loot.
"Why the Gallows?"
"I'm planning to turn you over to the templars." Anya deadpanned.
Varric and Isabela stared at her.
"What? I was just kidding. Sheesh. You people are no fun at all."
"Not a nice joke Boots. Almost had me running there." Hawke chuckled.
Anya rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath while Hawke and the others took one last sweep around the vault before they finally left.