SERENA
It's been three long, peaceful days since my last encounter with Hawke and the others. I never would've thought my life here would be so uneventful without them. Muscles that I weren't even aware of twitch from the restless boredom—eager to sprint, to test my strength and endurance, to let loose my inner warrior's carnal desires.
As if to match my agitated mood, the dark rain clouds over Kirkwall morph together in inconstant ominous patterns, making me wonder if it's possible for my mood to affect the local weather pattern since rain clouds here are fairly rare. While I consider the notion, I spy an armored figure descend the steps to the Alienage in the peripheral of my vision. Excitement rushes through me and I quickly sit up, my eyes glued on the approaching figure.
It's Hawke.
He strides over to me, his chin held high and a wide grin on his handsome, rugged face.
"Serena," he calls up to me. "Could you come down for a second? I'd like to speak with you."
I swiftly slide off the Vhenadahl and land in front of him, my scythe firm in hand. "What is it Hawke? It's rare for you to come seek me out during the day." I attempt to not sound too excited, but a smile takes over my expression regardless.
"I have a favor to ask of you," he explains. "Tonight, the others and I are heading to Darktown to meet with a contact, someone who can lead us into the Deep Roads for the expedition. I'd like it if you would accompany us."
"Of course, but what for?"
"For backup. It depends upon how our conversation pans out. One can never be too careful when dealing with a fabled Grey Warden."
My heart sinks. The limbs of my body suddenly feel heavier than chainmail. "A Grey Warden?" I ask, my nerves tingling uneasily.
"Yes, and an apostate too. He's been hiding out in Darktown for a year. He doesn't sound very trusting from what I hear."
"Do you have a name?"
Hawke scratches his head, his gaze far off now. "Blasted, what was it? I can't rightfully remember. I believe it started with a B? Or was it a D? Does it matter?"
I bite my lip and rub the bridge of my nose. "No, but…" I stop and sigh. "Is there truly no other way? You have to ask this Warden? You are certain?"
He raises an eyebrow. "Is that a problem?"
Licking my lips, I look away and shake my head, attempting to avoid unnecessary eye contact. "No. No, it's not," I say and stroke my fingers through my dark hair. "I'll meet you at the south entrance of Darktown at dusk."
"Is everything alright? You seem… troubled."
"It's nothing. Do not worry about it," I insist and head for the stairs leading to Lowtown, the pace of my steps rapid to enhance my chance of an earlier escape.
"Where are you going?" he asks as I reach the first platform.
"To buy a drink," I shout then disappear around the corner and set out for the Hanged Man.
His eyes are on me. I can feel his curious stare penetrating my bones like a well sharpened blade. Every ounce of my will is required for me not to snap and confront the watchful elf as we head into the filthy depths of Darktown. And the further we tread into Darktown territory, the more nervous and aggravated I become. Every nerve in my body throbs frantically, telling me to leave and not look back, that this isn't the place for me. Grasping the snath of my scythe is my only way of suppressing the powerful desire to run and hide.
Fenris notices and walks beside me, his eyes focused on Hawke and Varric leading in front of us. "What's the matter? You seem more… anxious than usual," he whispers, his deep voice oddly concerned and not accusatory for once.
"It's nothing," I reply and keep my eyes on the dirt path before us.
Hawke leads us up a set of dirty steps to a rotting wooden door. The smell of garbage is strong in this particular area, reminding me of the time I visited the Alienage in Denerim the past. When compared, this area would probably rank far worse.
"This is it," Hawke says then pushes the door open and steps inside. Fenris, Bethany, Varric, and I follow him into the room and my gaze immediately scans the area and focuses on a group of people towards the center of the room.
A boy is lying on a cot and three people surround him. Two of which are ordinary looking low-class shems—one a gray-haired female and the other a well-built man. The third one though is different. He's a blond human man in an ornate brown robe with some gray fur draped around his shoulders. A blue healing light emits from his pale fingertips and surrounds the small boy like a wool blanket. After a moment, the light vanishes and the boy sits up. The woman sighs and wraps her arms around the child while the older man checks on the mage who has turned his back to us. Their joy is swiftly cut off when the mage suddenly grabs his staff, twirls around, and raises a hand toward the four of us.
"I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation. Why do you—" He stops and centers on me, the anger and fear vanishing from his tense expression and his furrowed eyebrows lowering slightly. "You. It's… you," he whispers and relaxes.
Gulping down the bulge in my throat, I shake my head before Hawke and the others have the chance to glance at me.
The corner of one of Hawke's eyebrows perks up as he stares at me intently. "You two know each other?" he asks.
"We've run into each other in the past. Nothing more," I answer tersely, hoping he'll leave it at that.
Anders stands up straight and looks down at the ground. "Erm.. Yes. That's right," he concurs, although a bit awkwardly.
Without looking anyone in the eye, I motion to the scruffy mage, keeping my head low. "Everyone, allow me to introduce Anders—one of the select few Wardens who served at Amaranthine. Anders, these are my companions, Hawke, Bethany, Varric and Fenris."
"A pleasure," he nods to the others then shifts his attention to me. "But you, what are you doing here? I thought… I mean, you… I never…" He pauses and takes a deep breath. A joyful smile overcomes him. "It's good to see you again. You look well."
"I am. You also seem to be faring rather well… considering."
He glimpses around. "Yes, well it could be worse. The smell is the worst out of everything else. And they say Fereldan smells bad. Nothing compared to the barracks though. What's brought you all the way to Darktown? You hate being underground."
"I wouldn't have if I had much of a choice. But you should be asking him that," I gesture to Hawke. "He's the one who's come searching for you."
Hawke steps forward and bows his head. "I'm part of an expedition into the Deep Roads. Any information you have could save people's lives."
Anders paces a few steps and puts his hand on his forehead, the pupils of his eyes growing dark with grave understanding. "I would die a happy man if I never think about the blighted Deep Roads again. You can't imagine what I've come through to get here," he says, the tone of his voice pained. "Although… since you're an acquaintance of an old friend, a favor for a favor. Does that sound like a fair deal? You help me. I'll help you."
Hawke puts his hand up to slow the conversation. "Let's be more specific," he replies. "I don't do anything involving children or animals."
The corners of my lips curl up and I stifle a snicker. It's good to know that I can still count on Hawke to lighten the mood a bit when I least expect it. Otherwise this chance meeting would be nothing but tense and stressful.
Anders merely disregards the comment. "I have a Warden map of the depths in this area. But there's a price. I came to Kirkwall to aid a friend—a mage—a prisoner in the wretched gallows. The templars learned of my plan to free him. Help me bring him safely past them, and you shall have your maps."
"How do you plan to break him out of the Gallows?" Hawke asks.
"I'm hoping it won't come to that. I sent Karl a message to meet me in the chantry tonight. Maker willing, he'll be there alone. But if there are templars with him, I swear I'll free him from them whatever the cost."
"Let's hope there is no cost," I interrupt. "It wouldn't be wise to be too rash, especially when we have our own mages to protect." I glance over at Bethany and she looks down at the ground.
"Right," Hawke agrees and folds his arms in front of his chest.
"So then, you'll help?" Anders questions, his voice hopeful but cautious.
Hawke shrugs. "You've convinced me."
I scratch the back of my head. "Thus, I will be helping out as well," I grumble unenthusiastically, the future part of this day appearing grim and full of questioning already.
"I welcome your aid," Anders states, beaming like a young school boy. "And it's been a pleasure to meet all of you. We'll meet at the chantry then tonight, but until then…" He stares at me. "Serena, may I have a word with you?"
All eyes fall on me.
The tension between us is more intense than a blood mage attending a templar's funeral.
"I suppose," I reply then look at Hawke who's watching me closely. "I'll meet up with all of you at the Chantry later tonight," I insist, hoping he'll listen and abide to my wish.
He hesitates then consents. "Tonight then," he says, and then he motions to the others, and the four of them take their leave. Once the door shuts firmly behind them and Anders and I are alone, we sit down on a pair of cots that are positioned across from each other.
Anders leans forward and gawks at me, his muddy pupils wide with surprise. "I still can't believe that you're here," Anders says. "When you left, I thought I'd never see you again. Did you find him?"
A painful ache constricts my chest like a violent serpent—the topic still an open wound that I've yet to erase from my memory. "No. He was gone." The words struggle to not get caught in my throat like a giant rock.
"You're certain?"
"I wouldn't have left if I wasn't," I snarl. "A reliable source witnessed the scene. There was nothing more I could do."
Anders rubs his hand against the stubble on his jaw line. "I'm-I'm so sorry, Serena. I can't even imagine—"
"No, you can't," I stop him and stand up, taking the moment to give him an icy glare. I wouldn't let him speak of it more—not when there may still be prying ears. "However, that's all in the past. I am no longer the woman I once was. I have a new life here, and I have no plans of ever going back. So for my sake, please forget everything from the past. It's the only way for me to fully move on. It's the only request I ask of you, Anders."
Anders contemplates my request then exhales. "I understand," he replies. "I may not agree with you, but I understand."
"And our secrets are to remain between us?"
"Of course."
Those two words act as a key that release me from my anxious prison. "Good," I whisper and smile, my tense shoulders relaxing a bit. "Until tonight then, lethallin."
"Until tonight," he says.
With that, I step away from Anders and exit the room. When I'm outside and I close the door behind me, a fragment of white hair enters the corner of my vision. Dread befalls me and I heave a sigh. "Tell me: is it a flat-ear custom to eavesdrop on other people's conversations, or do you just have very bad manners?" I ask and face Fenris.
The scrawny elf doesn't budge and continues to lean against the wall, his toned arms crossed and his calculating sharp gaze on me. "My apologies. You were acting strangely. You didn't seem to want to speak to the mage, so I stuck around."
"Was that all it is? Curiosity had nothing to do with it?"
The elf stands up straight and shifts his eyes to the ground, his mouth partly open as if struggling for words.
Guilt forms in the pit of my stomach as I watch him strain for an answer. To ease the pressure and clear my conscience, I ruffle up my hair and look the other way. "Just don't do it again. I've had enough of Aveline's guards watching me. I don't need another pair of eyes spying on me as well," I explain then face him again. "Also, whatever you heard in there, forget about it. I'll bring up my past in due time on my own terms, but for now it's best forgotten."
Fenris' emerald eyes search mine, attempting to dig deep into my mind and soul. But by the look of dissatisfaction he gives me, he finds nothing. "As you wish," he utters and bows his head.
Unable to resist a triumphant smirk, I pivot away from him. "Good. Now let's go. The smell here is disgusting, and I doubt I'm the only one who thinks this." I look over my shoulder and wink at him. He stiffens so much he could rival a statue. With a laugh, I strut over to the stairs and make my way out of the depths of Darktown, leaving the past and the stunned elf behind me.
