A few weeks later and there was still no sign of Denarius. Fenris had been sure that the magister would head somewhere to get back-up and then return to re-capture him, and probably Nero as well. After voicing his worry one night at the Hanged Man Hawke decided that it wouldn't be a terrible idea to have somebody else staying in the mansion with them for a while. The group agreed and they took turns staying in a spare bedroom in the mansion. The only people that wouldn't stay the night were Aveline and Anders. Aveline promised to increase guard patrol in the area in exchange but Anders claimed to be too busy, offering vague excuses when it was pointed out that he rarely opened the clinic anymore.

It was Hawke's turn to stay with the ex-slaves and they were all in the kitchen finishing off a late supper .

"You are a surprisingly good cook, Hawke." Fenris said.

Hawke smiled, "I learned from the best."

"...your mother?" Fenris guessed carefully. Hawke didn't talk about or refer to his mother very often, not since she had been so grotesquely murdered, he wasn't sure if he should bring her up at all. Luckily it didn't bring Hawke down.

"Bethany actually." Hawke said, "We were never sure where she got the skill, she certainly didn't get it from either of our parents. Mother was a noble so she never had to make her own meals and my father lived in the circle so he didn't either. Their meals were passable, but when Bethany cooked it was like eating from the maker's own hands."

"I suppose the only time I've ever eaten her cooking was when we were in the deep roads, and she didn't have much to work with then. Although she did have an ability to not burn or overcook anything." Fenris said with an evil smirk towards Nero, who scowled.

"I only burnt it that one time. I never said I could cook, it's your fault for asking me to."

Hawke laughed, "I do wish the Wardens would let Bethany live at home when she's not out in the deep roads. Orana can bake more than she can cook. Which, don't get me wrong, I do love cookies and cake. But I would kill for a dinner of Bethany's orange chicken. I can never quite replicate her recipes."

"Well you don't do a half-bad job." Nero told him, "maybe you should just move in...can he move in Fenris?"

Hawke laughed, "I don't think so. I don't think either of you would appreciate having Orana or Sandal living here. I still can't get Orana to call me Hawke and Sandal likes to climb...everything."

"I don't think the neighbors would be very pleased if you lived with a couple of slaves, either." Fenris added.

"Probably not. I'm sure it would create some rumors that would make even Isabela blush." Hawke said with a smile.

"Isabela can blush?" Nero asked incredulously.

"...you know, I'm not entirely sure."

"What do you think of her return?" Fenris asked.

Hawke frowned, "I'm not mad at her...she didn't have to stay way so long. It's in her nature to look out for herself first. I'm still more amazed that she came back with the relic, to be honest."

"She could have prevented the entire Qunari attack." Fenris said darkly.

"Maybe so," Hawke replied thoughtfully, "but how was she to know that the Aarishok would attack the city? And who's to say he wouldn't have done it anyway?"

Fenris frowned, but didn't reply.

"Its nice to have her back, at least." Nero said, "although I can't really figure out why she did come back after all this time in the first place."

"Castillon was in town, I had promised her that I would help her deal with him, and I did. She has a ship now, what's preventing her from leaving...well I'm not so sure."

"She stole his ship?" Nero asked.

"No, he gave it to her, and promised to leave her alone, in exchange for...his life." Hawke said, he felt guilty for lying, but he wasn't about to admit to these two that she had promised to expose his part in the slave trade if he didn't meet her needs. He still felt terrible for his role in it, but he told himself that the man was going to have a hard time trading in slaves when he didn't have a ship to keep them on.

"And she believed him?"

"Apparently sailors are good on their word?" Hawke laughed, "I don't really buy it either, but she believed him...although I think she just wanted the ship."

"Does this mean we have to refer to her as captain now?" Nero laughed.

"Maker's breath, I hope not..." suddenly Hawke remembered that he had run into Sebastian earlier that day, on his way to Nero's estate "Oh, I have to go to the Chantry."

"I didn't take you as the religious type, Hawke." Nero smirked.

Hawke chuckled, "I ran into Sebastian, he said he wanted to speak to me, but he didn't have time then."

"We can go over now, if you would like." Fenris said.

Nero frowned, "do I have to? I hate the Chantry."

"Wouldn't leaving you here alone defeat the whole purpose of the precautions we've taken?"

Nero rolled his eyes, "I hate you."

"Of course." Fenris smirked.

...

They left for the Chantry not long after, stopping only once to greet Donnic as the Guard shift changed over to the nighttime shift. Since it was dark out there weren't many people traversing the streets of Hightown so they were able to make their way to the Chantry without being stopped repeatedly by people wishing to greet the Champion. A definite downside to going anywhere with Hawke.

Nero wasn't surprised when they, once again, stumbled upon a heated discussion taking place between Sebastian and Grand Cleric Elthina. He could never figure out why the woman never kicked the prince out, but then...he acted a tad less egotistical around her.

"First Enchanter Orsino has overstepped his bounds!" Sebastian was saying, likely referring to the confrontation between Orsino and Meredith that had taken place earlier that day, it had been an interesting altercation to watch...for everyone except Hawke.

"He was provoked." Elthina told him.

"The people want to know which side you favor. It weakens you."

"Strength will not win this fight, Sebastian. If the Maker is merciful he will help them find peace. We can only be waiting when they do."

"Do you never intend to give a public answer then, your grace?"

"What have I been asked?' Elthina demanded to know, even though she knew the answer already

"About the mages! You could calm this fire if you stepped forward. "

"The Chantry's teachings are clear, those who turn against them would not listen more to me than to Andraste."

"Mage this, Templar that. Is there anywhere in Kirkwall people don't talk about this?" Hawke asked tiredly.

"The last time mages rebelled against the Chantry, they ended up ruling Tevinter. Should we just ignore them?" Sebastian asked the champion.

"I knew I liked you." Fenris said with a smirk.

Nero scowled, but nobody seemed to notice.

"I did not expect things to deteriorate so fast. I thought after the Qunari, no one would wish for more violence." Elthina said, "It has drawn more attention than I would like. Sebastian, If I can ask-"

"Anything, Your Grace." Sebastian said with a small bow.

"And the champion too, If you will...?"

"I can't imagine any way this will go wrong." Hawke responded.

"What would you have of us?" Sebastian asked.

"The divine is concerned about the situation here. She does not want to see the Free Marches become another Imperium. She has sent an agent to ...assess the danger. Meet with her please, tell her drastic measures wont be required."

"I don't want to see the Divine's armies march against Kirkwall. That is an awful lot of Templars." Hawke said.

"Surely the divine wouldn't treat the whole city as enemies." Sebastian frowned

"She is concerned, it is never wise to draw the concern of the powerful." Elthina told him

"Words to live by." Nero said.

"She is the voice of Andraste. She cannot turn the might of the Chantry against the innocent due to...proximity." Sebastian insisted

"Were no innocents harmed in the Exalted Marches? She will do her best, Sebastian, but she must act first to protect the faith."

"What can you tell me about this servant of the Divine" Hawke asked, his curiosity piqued.

"I was not told her real name, only to call her Sister Nightingale. She is said to be the Divines left hand, sent to do work that might blacken the divines name."

Nero snorted and Sebastian gave him a hard glare.

"What argument would convince her?" Hawke asked.

"The divine has heard my protests already. I must trust your own powers of persuasion now." Elthina said sadly.

"This cannot wait."

"Thank you. We cannot allow this...ridiculous mage rebellion to turn into a holy war." Sebastian said

"The agent, Sister Nightingale, will be waiting in the Viscount's throne room tonight. She wishes to remain...unseen. The room has been sealed since the Qunari attack. It may be difficult to get in without attracting attention."

Hawked grinned at the Grand Cleric, "I'm super good at not attracting attention."

...

"You do realize that you are terrible for attracting attention, right?" Nero said as they ascended the steps to the Viscounts keep.

"I'm not that bad." Hawke frowned.

"If you say so...champion."

"Shut up."

"So if this door is locked...how are we going to get in?" Fenris asked.

"Nero's a rogue, he can just pick the lock." Hawke said cheerfully, before turning to the man, "can't you?"

Nero snorted, "I was a slave, do you really think they would teach me how to pick locks?"

Hawke frowned, "I suppose..."

Sebastian sighed, "I'll do it. I've been picking locks since I was a child."

"That's not very princely." Nero told him with a knowing smirk.

Sebastian rolled his eyes.

"Its not very brotherly either, shouldn't you believe that if the Maker wanted you to go in a room then he would leave it unlocked?"

"The Maker doesn't-"

"Stop bickering, we have a fight on our hands." Hawke interrupted.

Sebastian had already noticed and had his arrow ready and flying before Hawke finished his sentence, it hit one of the men running at them in the eyeball, killing him instantly.

"Did you see that shot?" He smirked, "this wont last long."

Nero rolled his eyes as he ran to meet a man with two daggers, he knocked his blades out of the way and plunged his new dagger into the man's throat. Pulling it out he pushed the man to the side and kicked another man with a longsword and a small shield in the side of his kneecap, sending him to his knees. With a growl he slit the man's throat.

He had been very disappointed when they had snuck onto the Tevinter boat before leaving Ostwick, only to find that his old dagger was gone. He didn't really like his new dagger, it was cheap but as of yet he hadn't found one that felt right. He felt like he was working extra hard to make up for the awkwardness of the thing. He was familiar with his old dagger, it was made specifically for him, and he wanted it back. He just wasn't willing to hunt Denarius down to get it.

He suddenly felt a presence behind him and swore as a shield smacked him in the shoulder, hard, sending him to the ground. He rolled and just as he stood up with his blade raised to take off the man's head an arrow appeared in his temple and he fell to the ground with a thump.

He blinked and heard, Sebastian say "I am good aren't I?" from a few feet away.

"Yes, you are good, but you don't have to brag about it you egotistical, fairy-tail worshiping maniac." He grumbled under his breath as he turned to attack a rogue that had his sights on Hawke.

Hawke was busy fighting a large man with a giant axe so he didn't see the man behind him coming, luckily Nero had reached him in time, although Hawke remained unaware. He was sweating as he blocked another blow with his shield and hissed as his arm rang with the impact. He tried to get the man in front of him to back off by smacking him with his shield, but he didn't so Hawke swung his sword, aiming at the man's legs.

Unfortunately he didn't connect before the man hit him in the forehead with the butt of his weapon. Stunned he stumbled backwards and at the last moment he saw the axe swinging for his head. So he ducked and plunged his blade upwards into the mans chest. He watched, pleased, as the axe fell to the ground with a clatter.

Looking around he was glad to see that the fight was over, it took a moment but finally he started to feel the pain on his forehead.

"Ooooooow." He whined.


a/n:

sorry for Sebastian fans out there. I liked him when I first got him in the game, hes so purdy and such, but hes kind of an ass. *shrugs*