Chapter 4
Varric watched Annette as she interacted with the small group she had assembled while hiking the mountain in their path. They had been travelling for two hours now and Annette was eager to let her companions rest. If she were to lead this group she would want to have their respect and friendship.
"It's quite cold," Annette commented on the weather.
"It's always cold up here, Hawke," Varric replied with a smile, "We don't have to rest yet, I assure you."
"Are you positive?" Annette asked the group.
"Sister, do not worry yourself, you are with your sister, a healer a pirate and a merchant," Bethany assured her sister.
"You forgot about Bianca," Varric pointed out and gently stroked the crossbow he insisted on carrying in his hands. "You hurt her feelings."
"Tell her I apologise, please?" Bethany asked the dwarf. The younger mage was a little confused about the situation she was in and she glanced at her sister and Isabela to see the two choking back small giggles.
Varric smiled at Bethany, "Thank you for your apology, Sunshine."
Bethany looked at her sister and raised her eyebrows slightly in confusion; Annette shook her head as a silent way of telling her sister not to worry about the dwarf - or to not question his sanity. There was obviously an explanation as to why the dwarf named his crossbow Bianca.
"Shall we get a move on?" Anders asked, that was when the small group realised they were stood still on the mountain.
They travelled further up the mountain, the air getting colder the higher they travelled. Soon the moon had risen and the night became colder.
The group set up small tents on a flat surface that took a while to find and Bethany lit a fire in the middle of the three tents. Anders has completed a perimeter check to ensure there were no creatures of some sort lurking anywhere.
Varric sat away from the group, cleaning Bianca and mumbling words to the crossbow that were only meant for him and the object. No one interrupted him.
Annette sat by the fire in her armour but a blanket - Bethany had been wise enough carry in her pack before joining her sister outside of Gamlen's home – around her and her sister. The two huddled together trying to keep warm. The two were not used to cold weather's such as the one on that night. Isabela and Anders had had experience, Isabela; when on her ship and Anders; camping with the Grey Wardens.
Of course the sisters had worked with the Mercenarys for a year which meant they had to travel outside of Kirkwall from time to time but they were always on the move. The job had to be completed quickly, and so rest was not always around the corner for them.
"Come on you two," Isabela teased, "It's not that cold."
"But you are used to the cold weather, from owning a ship and sailing the seas," Bethany pointed out to the pirate.
"But there is a fire."
"I'll be a doing a night watch tonight," Annette said, changing the subject.
"Would you like me to join you?" Anders offered.
"I'll be fine," Annette told him, "But thank you for your offer."
Anders smiled at Annette but it quickly faded as Justice's thoughts filled his head, the word 'distraction' circling his mind continuously until he retreated into a tent he and Varric were sharing.
"Well Hawke," Varric called from his spot, signalling he was finished cleaning his weapon, "As much as I love your company, I'm going to catch some sleep."
"Goodnight, Varric," Annette called to the dwarf as he crawled into the tent.
"I think I'm going to join them," Isabela said and went to her tent.
"I think I will join her, good night, Annette," Bethany whispered and planted a kiss on her sister's cheek.
Bethany never used her sister's name in public, only when around family. Annette's first name was for a personal use only. If she were to become closer to her friends, maybe then they will learn her first name.
Annette sat on the log near the fire that Anders had laid and pulled out her dagger from her boot. She looked at it as it glistened from the light in the fire. The memories she had after receiving this dagger – as a gift from her father – were the memories she enjoyed. The scars over her body held the memories of the ones she wished she could forget.
Her father bought her the dagger when she reached the age of 15 and a few of Carver's friends took a liking to her. Even though Carver was younger then Annette, he had friends around her age and even older. He was quite popular in Lothering. Malcolm Hawke told his eldest daughter that if she were going to the local tavern for a night or for a walk in the dark, she should carry the dagger with her but to keep it hidden. The Templars that patrol the city would question her, otherwise.
Anders could not get any sleep, as he lay on the floor of the tent, staring at the cloth that cut his sight from the stars. He listened to the creatures that lived outside of the tent and heard the wind whistle past the trees.
He had been laying there for a while when he heard someone, who sound like Annette, wake up with a start and gasping for breath.
Anders silently exited the tent, making sure not to wake the dwarf on the other side.
He saw Annette sitting up straight with her legs crossed, her elbows resting on her thighs and her head in her hands. Her slender body was shaking slightly. Anders ignored the thoughts swirling around his head and made his way over to Annette.
She didn't hear his footsteps and was surprised when she felt his strong arm being placed around her shoulders' and his presence by her side. But she didn't remove her face from her hands; she didn't want the mage to see her after she had been sobbing.
"Are you okay, Hawke?" he asked her gently.
"I'm fine," she mumbled. Anders had to strain to hear her words from the volume of her voice against her pale hands.
"You cannot be fine if you're shaking," Anders tried to soothe her.
"Anders, I am fine, please leave me be." She refused to move her hands from her face.
"Maybe there is something I can help with?" The mage was just soo damn persistent!
Annette lifted her head from her hands and turned her head to face the mage before snapping at him, "There is nothing you can do!" Annette yelled in a whisper, "I have had this problem for almost three years! I have tried everything!"
Anders studied her face as she glared at him. Her eyes were blood shot and red-rimmed. Fear and sadness filled the two blue gems and made the dark circles underneath them stand out more against her pale skin.
Anders wanted to pull Annette into a hug, comfort her, but Justice filled his head, and he didn't want anything to happen while Annette was soo close. He had no control over Justice when she was around. She did that to him. She broke down everything he built up, even though he tried to fight against her hold she had on him.
He knew it was unintentional. She did not know what she was doing to this mage and anybody with eyes could see that. They could also see how Anders' feelings for her grow with each passing moment with her.
Took a while but I've been sorting some things out
-apologies-
Thank you those who Alert/ favourite!
To know people read this helps me a lot :3
