The city of Kirkwall actually surprised her. What she had left was chaos, she had expected it to stay as so. She did not expect to see a city rebuilding. People moved about Hightown with genuine smiles on their faces. Merchants greeted their customers. Children played in streets. There was still a lingering tension. She could feel it in the way people watched them.
Merrill's Glamour had done its job in completely altering their appearance. Her dark hair had become blond, her soft round brown eyes had become blue and sharp along with her face. She for one did not recognize herself. When she turned to Sebastian, She wasn't greeted with his familiar face, his red hair and blue eyes. Instead who she saw was a man slightly younger than her archer, bright faced and green eyed with light brown hair. His accent only added to the ensemble.
At first, she thought it was her and Sebastian's presence that brought o the stares and glances. But then she noticed Bella break off from the group. Several people followed the pirate with their eyes as she approach a merchant stall. Even the man himself seemed noticeably tense.
"Ooo, Antivan leather." She turned to the merchant holding up the dagger harness she had just spotted. "How much?"
"Take it, Serrah. No charge." Bella eyed the man but took the holster any way, but not before tossing 3 gold pieces on to the table.
"What was that?" Alanni turned to Sebastian with a questioning look. It was Bella who answered. "Those of us who stayed in the city, Merrill, Aveline, Varric and I, have had to deal with some interesting… reactions after you left." Alanni turned away, Guilt apparent in her face. "Not to worry, .sweetheart," The rogue gave her a wink "It hasn't been all bad." Fenris shook his head from beside his lover.
They turned down the familiar path, the path that led to her home.
The realization must have shown on her face because this I when Sebastian spoke. "I hope you do not mind. I have used this as my Kirkwall home since you left." He opened the gate to the path allowing her and the others to go through. Taking a deep breathe, Alanni pushed open the door and stepped through.
Most of the home was the same, only little differences were noticeable; paintings, tapestries, furniture and such were added but much of her things still remained. Everything felt so familiar, she couldn't help but glancing over to Bodhan and Sandal's corner, half expecting the two to be there working as normal. But their familiar work spaces was littered with nothing but used parchment and unread letters. "Bodahn continued on with Sandal some time ago, although he regularly send his regards." A door creaked open somewhere and a familiar scent was brought to her attention. She turned to Sebastian Who answered before she could even asked. "I have yet to find a cook who can make a pastry who can rival Oranna's cinnamon buns." Her smiled spread from ear to ear. "Come, we shall talk in the kitchen." The group walked through the door leading to the kitchen, Alanni not the only eager to indulge in Oranna's cooking.
"-a chef to rival all others!" They opened the door to find Oranna tending to the cooking pot, while Varric sat at the counter, eyeing the still steaming buns. Both turned when the door opened.
"Varric? Your still here?" Bella gave the dwarf a friendly shove as she reached over and grabbed the bottle of wine on the counter. Merrill went to Oranna and immediately began asking what he could help the other elf with.
"CHOIRBOY! Glad to see you back in one piece. "Merrill had released the glamour as soon as they had walked in.
Varric's face fell when he couldn't Immediately see Alanni. "Where is she?" Sebastian turned from the door to reveal Alanni standing behind him. She smiled and gave Varric a wave.
The dwarf couldn't help it. He moved from his stool and took her into a tight hug. "I've missed you too, Varric."
"Life has almost been boring without you, Hawke. Almost." He gave her a sarcastic smile, the one she had missed so much.
"Shall we move this to the dining hall?" The others moved out the door leaving just Alanni and Sebastian alone with Oranna. "You ca bring the food to us in there oranna, and you are more then welcome to join us for a meal."
The young elf turned up from her work and smiled. "Thank you, your grace."
"I am glad to see you are doing well, Oranna." Alanni looked away. "I am sorry for my departure."
"Not to worry, Mistress. I am just glad to see you are ok." Alanni smiled warmly at the young woman before moving through the door the others had.
She found her merry band seated around the table, Aveline had once again joined them, which she was very glad for. She didn't know if he could handle anyone in the keep at this moment and not knowing exactly who that might be frightened her even more.
Several bottles had been produced and opened already. The plate of buns sat almost empty on the table. Aeron stood off in the corner. When he saw Sebastian enter, he moved to the man's side quick enough and leaned over whispering in to his ear. Alanni kept her eyes away, trying to focus on her friends, but temptation got the better of her. She stole a glance just in time to see Sebastian give a nod in response to whatever was said. With that, Aeron turned and left the room.
"Where is he going? Did you find something?" Alanni felt her heart race. She needed news on Aedan. Any news. Not knowing was killing her more than she showed.
Sebastian had said Anders would not hurt his son. But what if it was not Anders They were dealing with?
The room became quiet and all eyes were on Sebastian. The prince sighed. "Someone saw someone who matched Anders and Aedan's description, down in Darktown but I am no fool to trust these source alone. Aeron has gone to see what he can turn up. He is unknown enough in these parts, he should not draw suspicion."
"And what do we do till he returns?" Fenris spoke from his seat at the table. Anger was clear on his face, but he controlled his temper. "Are we expected to sit by while the abomination does and say whatever he pleases to the young Hawke?"
"We can't just barge in full force either." Aveline spoke from the side. "Anders doesn't suspect a thing. He doesn't know that Alanni and Sebastian are here in Kirkwall. He probably doesn't even know where they are. Fenris visiting is more than normal considering." She gestured toward Isabella, who sat right beside the broody elf. "All in all, Kirkwall seems like the last place any one would look for him. That makes it the safest." She looked at Fenris. "We don't wat him taking Aedan and running should we make the wrong moves."
Sebastian voiced his agreement. "We need to tread carefully until we know the best way to go about this." He turned to Alanni. She wasn't looking at him. She wasn't looking at anyone. She was just standing there with her hand on the chair, staring straight into the fire.
"It's late. We will continue this tomorrow." He kept his eyes on her. "By then, Aeron will have returned with news and we can figure out how to proceed."
One by one her companions left the room, Merrill and Aveline returning to their own homes, Varric, Bella and Fenris heading to their rooms upstairs.
"It's been like this for two years." He said to her breaking her thoughts. Taking her hand from the chair, he pulled it out and guide her into it. He pulled out the chair beside her for himself. "After I returned to StarkHaven, I made my moves to reclaim the throne." Alanni moved to ask questions but he held up is hand to stop her. "A story for another time." He took her hand again, moving his thumb in circles as he thought back to the memories. "When I returned to Kirkwall, only months later, I found it torn and broken." He frowned. "The hanged man was barely up and running, many homes had been destroyed when the chantry fell." He paused stopping his thumb motions. "Part of me had hoped the city had started healing. I knew you would not want to be surrounded by chaos if you felt you were to blame. I was disappointed, to say the least, upon my arrival." Taking a breath, he looked up at her. "I had no choice but to lend my aid."
He brought her hand up to his lips and placed a gentle kiss it. "This was your home."
"It still is, Sebastian." She dropped his hand and turned away. "But not without my son. "
Alanni stood up and exiting the dining room, leaving Sebastian lost to his own thoughts.
He felt some what hurt at her reaction to returning but perhaps the fault was his. He had been trying too hard not to worry her. He wanted her to relax if only for the night.
He had not been completely honest with her. In truth, the light outside the clinic was lit. It has not been lit since before that faithful night. The news, when Aeron had brought it, had Sebastian thinking to act then and there. But after the journey here, they could not properly prepare for what may come. They had no knowledge how the man was even alive much less what he may be capable of at the moment.
He could not risk going in there blind.
Aeron would survey through the night into the morning and report back by noon. They could move as soon as tomorrow night.
Until then, however, there was not much they could do.
Rising from the chair, He left the dining room to head to bed. He stopped only to inform Oranna of everyone's retirement causing the elf to stop her cooking and begin putting everything away for tomorrow .
He climbed the stairs leading to the master bedroom. He opened the door, wondering only for a moment where Alanni had gone to sleep. His question were answered as he entered the room to see her laid out on the bed out cold.
Closing the door softly, He walked up to her sleeping form and smiled. He had thought of offering her her mother's room, as it was the last room unoccupied within the manor. He has not even had the heart to enter the late matriarch's room. Not having the heart to wake her, he took the extra pillow off the bed and moved to the chair on the far side of the room.
He sat down and made himself as comfortable as he be. Glancing once more at Alanni, he smiled to himself and closed his eyes.
Even with all that was happening, He knew she was glad to be home.
