Big thank you again to all who's favourited this story and/or sent me a review :D
Just a little note: in case you were wondering, Ruben, Leland and those introduced in this chapter will all most likely be appearing again later (maybe even Whitby if i feel so inclined :P - nothing like the annoying guard eh?)- who will reappear will mostly depends on which direction this story decides it is going (I have no control over it - it mostly writes itself). I have a whole list of characters that I can just toss into the fray whenever I want but I prefer to have a few well developed OC's rather than an army of faceless characters.
And, now with that all done - On with the show!
Disclaimer: Bioware owns all (probably including my soul)
Bethany's face lit up instantly and she leapt out of her seat and ran to her brother, wrapping her arms around him in a fierce hug.
"What are you doing here?" She asked as she pulled away, smiling happily at him.
Hawke shrugged "I was in Denerim and thought I should pay my dear little sister a visit – well, one without the threat of imminent death anyways."
Bethany laughed softly and caught sight of Isabel and Fenris "I haven't seen you in so long." The mage said, hurrying over to give Isabela a hug.
"How have you been Sweetness?" Isabela asked fondly, "I really didn't get to see you during that mess in Kirkwall."
"I am good." She replied. A blush coloured her cheeks as she continued, "I want to have a talk to you later about some certain…things. I need some advice." She whispered in the pirate's ear.
Isabela smirked at the mage "Sure thing."
Bethany stopped near Fenris, unsure of how to continue. They had not been exactly close before she had joined the Wardens, and last time they had met he had been less than tolerant of mages.
Fenris bowed slightly "It is good to see you well."
The woman's face broke into a smile "And it is good to see you well too." She said bowing politely back.
Within a few minutes they were all seated around one of the large tables that ran along the hall. Hawke updated his sister on their companions and what had happened since the deep roads exhibition (there is only so much one can write about in letters) and Bethany regaled them with stories about being a Warden. They all looked up as two other Wardens approached, a man and a woman.
The woman sat herself down next to Bethany and peered at the mage's companions, "Who's this?" she asked. The man sat opposite her.
Bethany crossed her arms and shot a glare at the woman, "How rude. You shouldn't just barge into other people's business."
The woman smiled charmingly at the mage, "Oh? And since when have you had reservations about barging into other people's business?"
"Ivy." Bethany said warningly.
The woman ignored her, instead smiling at Hawke, "The name's Ivyanne. I'm one of Beth's Warden friends."
The Champion nodded his head, "Hawke. I'm Bethany's elder brother."
Ivyanne quickly turned her head towards Bethany, "You didn't tell me your brother was coming." She glanced back at Hawke, looking him up and down, "And you didn't tell me he was good looking either."
"That's because he is my brother." Bethany exclaimed, "And I didn't know he was even in Denerim until he came here."
The other woman pouted, "Fine. I forgive you."
Bethany let out a long sigh. "Well I suppose I should 'properly' introduce you."
"What was wrong with my introduction?" Ivyanne protested.
The mage pinched the bridge of her nose in a Hawke-like fashion. Ivyanne smiled as the woman did so – she also recognized what it meant.
Bethany introduced Isabela and Fenris to the other two Wardens. Ivyanne was a skilled rogue with daggers and, upon discovering Isabela was proficient with the blade, promised to have a sparring match later with the pirate. The other Warden, the man, was introduced as Paisley. He was an ex-templar who had been recruited into the Grey Wardens. Hawke had shot a dark look at the man but Paisley had held up his hands and quickly added that he would not do anything to a fellow Warden, apostate or not.
"Are Wardens above the Chantry as well?" Isabela asked quizzically.
Paisley gave a strained smile, "Not really. But the Chantry in Ferelden would not dare try to cross the Warden-Commander – they tried so once after the Blight and from what I heard it did not end well." The ex-templar turned towards Hawke, "You do not have to worry about your sister, each and every one of us are Wardens before we are templars, or mages or nobility. We would not hand a fellow Warden over to the Chantry or the Circle willingly."
"And even then they'd have to face the wrath of the Commander." Ivyanne added chuckling.
"Is the Warden-Commander really that fearsome?" Hawke asked.
Ivyanne smirked, "Indeed she is, the Commander is also the Hero of Ferelden. On top of that she is in cahoots with the King."
Isabel smiled slowly, "So she's the Warden-Commander."
"Do you know the Hero of Ferelden, Isabela?" Bethany turned toward the pirate.
"Mmm-hmm. I met the Hero back before the Blight reached Denerim. Mind you, she wasn't the Hero back then; just one of the last two Grey Wardens in Ferelden." She shot a glance over at Fenris, "I met her in the Pearl actually." Her grinned grew as the Wardens stared at her stunned.
"You met the Commander in the Pearl?" Ivyanne managed to get out.
"Somehow I don't believe you're telling the truth Isabela." Bethany added doubtfully. "The Commander isn't the sort of person to go to a place like that."
"Neither is the Champion of Kirkwall." Isabela's golden eyes flashed to Hawke briefly. Hawke gave her a warning look in return. "But believe me, I am telling the truth. I met the Hero in the Pearl."
"And my aunt's the witch of the wilds." Ivyanne replied, "I think you're leading us along."
"Oh am I?" the pirate purred, she was having way too much fun, "How about we ask the Hero ourselves and see whether I was telling the truth or not?"
"You can't just ask the Commander something like that." The rogue said fearfully, hissing at Isabela from across the table.
Paisley froze in his seat suddenly as a voice called out from behind the two female Wardens "What can't you ask me?"
Bethany and Ivyanne's faces were pale as they turned slowly towards their Commander. Fenris stiffened as he caught sight of the Hero of Ferelden and the Warden-Commander of Ferelden.
Sabriel stood in a casual blue and white warden uniform, hand propped on hips and a smile tugging at her lips as she regarded the Wardens. Her amber eyes shifted between the three Wardens expectantly.
"Ah, that is…um… Commander…" Ivyanne quickly looked down at the floor, unable to meet the dalish woman's gaze.
"I said that I met you at the Pearl." Isabela called out.
The three Wardens all spun their heads quickly towards the pirate, looks of horror on their faces.
Sabriel's eyes narrowed as they fixed on the woman, "And your name is?"
"I am Isabela, I was the Captain of The Siren's Call. We met back during the Blight in the Pearl." Isabela informed the Commander.
The Commander's eyes narrowed further, "You were the one who kept cheating at the stupid card game," she said slowly as she recognized the pirate, "the one Zevran knew."
"Yep, that's me." Isabela smiled smugly. "How's that friend of yours by the way, the other warden? – He looked like he had a chest to die for."
"You mean Alistair? He's King now." The elf replied without missing a beat.
Ivyanne let out soft choking noise, "Really now? Hmm, I missed a good chance there. I should have tried a little harder to get into his pants then. It's not everyday that you get to sleep with a soon-to-be-King." Isabela commented whimsically.
"Isabela!" Bethany cried out, mortified.
"Is Isabela your guest Bethany?" The Commander asked, amber eyes looking at the mage, "I didn't know you hanged around with such people."
"I- that is…I'm not…" Bethany's face grew redder as she tried to explain.
"Isabela's with me." Hawke said getting to his feet. He walked over to stand next to the Hero of Ferelden, towering over the petite dalish woman, "I am Bethany's brother, Hawke."
The elf had to look up to meet the man's gaze, "Relax," Sabriel said, hitting the man lightly square in the chest; "I was jesting. I know better than anyone that who you hang around with doesn't necessarily affect who you are." She smiled confidently; "I travelled across Ferelden and back with a bastard prince, an apostate, an ex-bard turned chantry sister, a condemned Qunari, a circle enchanter, an Antivan assassin, a drunk dwarf, a talking golem and a dog. You wouldn't find a company of misfits more bizarre in all of Thedas."
Hawke smiled back at the elf, but Fenris knew he was probably thinking of his own set of travelling companions. Though he had to admit the talking golem was impressive. The Warden-Commander's eyes then fell on him for the first time, recognition lighting up their depths as she saw him.
She smirked at him before turning back to Hawke, "So, you're the renowned Hawke? I have heard a fair few things about you."
"Most of which is probably not true." The warrior replied, "A friend of mine liked to exaggerate my experiences and spread his far-fetched stories wherever and whenever he could." Hawke said, smiling a little as he recalled the dwarf.
The Commander's brows rose slightly, "Oh? So you didn't take down three ogres with one arm tied behind your back?"
"Not that I can recall."
"How about taking out all of the bandit leaders in Kirkwall all in one night?"
"Impossible."
"Beating the Arishok to death with his own arm?"
"Not even close to the truth."
The woman crossed her arms, brow furrowed as she tried to recall the stories she had heard. "Did you single handedly kill a fully grown High Dragon?"
"No. Though I have killed a High Dragon but not by myself." Hawke replied.
Sabriel's eyes lit up, "Do tell."
Hawke sat back down and prepared himself to retell the story about the High Dragon that had settled itself in the Bone Pit, killing all the workers in the process. He was just about to begin when a loud voice yelled across the hall.
"COMMANDER!"
The elven woman visibly cringed and turned slowly towards the Warden at the other end of the hall. He stood in the doorway, puffing, his gaze fixed on her.
"So this is where you were." The man said as he began to stride over to where the group was, "I am gone for five minutes and you slip out of your office even though you still had work to do."
The Commander flashed a grin at Hawke and his companions, "You'll have to tell me another time Hawke. The bane of my existence has just arrived. Now, if you'll excuse me." The woman turned swiftly and sprinted away from the approaching Warden.
The man let out a cry of protest and gave chase to the fleeing Commander, ignoring the others in the room as he belted past them in pursuit.
The small group sat in silence in wake of what had just transpired; Hawke, Isabela and Fenris in bewilderment and Bethany, Ivyanne and Paisley in horror. The murmur of conversation slowly began to refill the room as the other Wardens continued their own conversations.
"Who…was that?" Hawke asked, breaking the silence
Paisley sighed, "That was the Commander's personal assistant, Torsten. He sort of keeps her in line, makes sure she does all of her work." He answered.
"Does this happen regularly?" Hawke asked in jest, staring at where the two had disappeared.
His grin froze on his face when his sister replied, "It does."
R&R :D
