Blackwall had already been in the filthy town for over a fortnight. His senses were now dead to the smell of rotting fish and garbage and the ever present sensation that he was being watched. He was used to small rural places and spending his time in solitude. Being surrounded by constant noise and little room to move both indoors and out was nerve wracking to the Grey Warden. Blackwall had all his gear ready and packed, leaving this dumpster of a town couldn't happen fast enough.
He took the stairs two at a time down to the main room of the small inn. Sitting by the fire, he broke his fast on a small bowl of simple porridge and watered down wine. He had originally come to Kirkwall at the behest of the Knight-Captain of the Templars, who claimed he had a recruit for the Wardens. Blackwall prided himself on his preparedness when it came to events like this, already having packed their rations and had their rooms booked on the ship that would carry them back to Ferelden.
Once finished, Blackwall paid his tab, and humped his gear onto his back. He had told the Templar to have the recruit by the docks no later than an hour before departure. That gave him plenty of time to find the ship and make sure all his accommodations had been taken into consideration. Stepping outside, Blackwall peered deeper into the town, several thin streams of dark smoke were rising into the air from where the Tower was located and far off sounds of chaos filtered into the gradually filling streets. People began coming outside and staring toward the Tower, their voices growing louder in concern. The Mages had rebelled.
When Blackwall had spoken with the Templar a week ago, the man had made note of how unrest stirred within the Tower, that had been the reason behind trying to get this recruit, his niece he claimed, away from the city. Blackwall had agreed to take his niece across the sea to Ferelden. The Warden turned toward the docks with renewed determination. Whether or not the Templar showed up, he needed to be ready to leave when the time came. Finding the ship, he boarded and took his pack to his room. The Captain of the ship expressed his concerns with the spreading chaos in the city. "A few more moments, if you would, sir." Blackwall asked the man.
Off in the distance he saw the Templar running headlong towards the docks, a slight woman in tow behind him, her eyes wide in terror. Blackwall stepped off the boat to meet the man and woman. "I got her here as fast as I could." the Templar huffed, catching his breath. He gently pulled the girl around to face him. "This man will take you to safety. I'm sorry for all you have endured here, but this is a new life for you. I wish you and your friend the best." the man gave her a small smile and urged her toward the boat. He pulled a heavy pouch of coin from his belt and handed it to Blackwall. "No harm will come to her, swear it on your life, or I will hunt you down and not even the Maker could keep me from killing you." the Templar's eyes burned dark meaning into Blackwall's. He meant business, Blackwall respected that. "I shall protect her with my life." he replied. The Templar turned around after nodding, drew his sword and started walking back to the Tower. As the boat cast off, the Templar looked back one last time and locked eyes with the girl. Blackwall sensed a deep longing and sadness is the Templar's eyes as the man watched the boat drift out into the sea.
Blackwall motioned to the girl. "Come now, let me show you your cabin. My name is Blackwall." He smiled at her softly. She nodded and turned from the railing, following him as he walked below decks. The halls were narrow and many doors lined opposite one another in the hallway. Their rooms were across the hall from one another. He unlocked her door and handed her the key. "This room is yours. I am just over there." He pointed and stepped back, letting her enter. She sat down on the bed, staring at her hands, her eyes filling with tears. Blackwall didn't do well with this sort of thing. He coughed and stepped out of the room. "I'll be across the way, should you need anything. Perhaps some rest will do you some good." He closed her door and sighed, leaning against the wall.
It had been years since he had spoken to or been around a woman who wasn't a bar wench or red lantern whore. Words were rarely spoken with those sorts of women, and usually communications were left to grunts and growls in one form or another. Blackwall ran his hand down his beard and shrugged off the wall, walking back up to the deck to watch the city float away. Once topside, he leaned against the railing and watched the billows of smoke from Kirkwall curl menacingly into the sky. The timing couldn't have been better had he planned it himself.
He was glad to be away from that hellhole of a town. Now all he had to do was pray to the Maker for good weather and speedy winds to lead him and his recruit back to Ferelden with little to no hiccups. With the blight over, he really had no reason to recruit, and would need to speak to the girl down the road about her options as far as the Grey Wardens were concerned. Not many people had the luxury of options when it came to the Grey Wardens. Blackwall nodded, a talk was in order, but he had two months to have that talk. Two months at sea seemed like a lifetime to a man like Blackwall, but he reminded himself that patience was a virtue. "Whoever invented that saying was a bloody idiot." he mumbled before turning and heading to his room below decks.