9:31 Firstfall 28th
I simmered in my bath. I didn't like Isabela that way. At least I didn't think so. It was one time besides that one time when I was younger…Damn it all to hell. I got out quickly, feeling the redness on my face. I'd rather not get a nosebleed. I put on my clothes and tried drying out my hair. I shivered slightly even though I was warm.
"I was wondering when you would come out." Fenris said, leaning against the wall. Fenris was different than other male elves. He was actually taller than them which mean that he was taller than me. Prick.
"Why didn't you just knock?" I asked.
"I came here because Hawke told me of a mission she got of saving a young mage that tried fleeing from the Alienage. You were in the bath."
"She left?" I raised my eyebrow.
"She said she would be waiting at the marketplace." Fenris said.
"Ah no rest for the wicked then." I said, putting my hair up in a tight ponytail. "Are you coming?"
"Might as well. I missed the fun last night." He smirked.
"Shush Fenris or I'll stop cooking for you."
"Then I will kick you out."
"…Prick."
"Princess."
"Don't call me that!"
We got out of the house and went toward the Hightown marketplace. I had a frown on my face from the random name calling we did. Stupid Fenris.
"Your face is going to stay that way if you frown any harder." Fenris commented.
"You know that isn't true." I saw Hawke, Merrill, and Anders all at a robe stand.
"Green does bring out your eyes." Hawke said, holding up a robe to Merrill.
"But it's so expensive. Half of the things I've seen here I've never seen before." Merrill sighed.
"That's Hightown for you." Hawke chuckled.
"Can we get a move on? The boy could be in mortal danger for all we know." Anders said, his arms crossed.
"Don't get your breeches in a knot." Hawke said, putting away the robe.
"Yo Hawke."
"Nia, just the person I love to see." Hawke chuckled.
"The person that will always say yes to jobs at least." I mumbled.
"And that's why you're my favorite. In fact my brother and sister along with Aveline and Varric just went to the Wounded Coast to take care of a few mercenaries that we're hunting down for a Chantry mission." Hawke said.
"Someone put up a notice to murder people on the Chantry board? The irony." Anders laughed.
"Yes he did. Now, let's get a move on shall we?" Hawke said, cracking her knuckles.
"Lead the way Hawke." I said. "Where are we going?"
"Lowtown. The boy's father should be there and it's the first place I'd rather look than in the gallows."
"Worried they might take you in?" Fenris said.
"I can make people think that this is a walking stick but we're traveling with three mages right now. I think that might be hard to swallow at this point. Not only that, I don't want to risk him." Hawke pointed at Anders.
"You came by for a few potions and told me about the boy. You could at least be happy about it." Anders huffed.
"Sorry, it's kinda hard when you do that glowy thing." Hawke shrugged.
"Leave him alone Hawke." I said.
"I'm sorry, I'll leave your beautiful man to you or would you rather I bring Isabela?"
"NO!"
"I missed something again, didn't I?" Merrill asked.
"You should have seen her, she was all red when Isabela-" Hawke started.
"That's it. I'm not giving you anymore free food."
"Ok, ok, I'll stop!"
"I won't. She turned super red when Isabela kissed her on the mouth." Anders said.
"Oh! I never knew you liked girls. Which do you fancy?" Merrill asked.
"It was one time!"
"You are getting red." Anders said in a sing song voice.
"Anders I dislike you." I growled. We came into Lowtown with the various markets here and there. I recognized Vincento from when I was last here.
"Welcome my fair lady. It seems that you are the type who would appreciate the most beautiful rubies around your neck. I bring many fine merchandise for you to see."
"I'm only here to find out more about your son." Hawke said, crossing her arms.
"My lady you wound me. I am a bachelor. There is no woman of beauty or charm to tie Vincento down." I rolled my eyes. He chuckled. "Please, let us not sully the day with weighted thoughts, how about browsing my silks?"
"We are not Templars, you don't have anything to fear from us." She said, letting a small fire appear in her hand.
"Maldicion! A mage! Then…then you would be sympathetic to a boy running from the mages, no?"
"Yes we are." Anders said.
"Unfortunately from our group." Fenris mumbled. I poked both of their cheeks.
"Shush." I said. Anders chuckled and Fenris swatted my hand away.
"The boy was worried and in over his head. I sent him to a man that I know that did not despise mages. A former Templar named Samson." That got my interest. Samson-.
"Does this Samson have a residence I can visit and chat?" Hawke asked.
"No. He is a wanted man. He resides near the entrances of Darktown late at night. That is all I know."
"Thank you Serah." Hawke said. We left the bazaar. She sighed. "Late at night. Seems like I won't be getting any beauty sleep."
"You're telling me." I mumbled.
"But you don't become more beautiful with more sleep right? I seem to wake up with all my hair in a bunch." Merrill said.
"Looks like we'll have to wait then." Anders said.
"I hate waiting." I frowned.
"Don't worry, I'll knock on your door once comes time. For now, I might as well walk Jarvis. Andraste knows that dog needs more exercise."
"Can I come? He always gives me the best barks." Merrill asked.
"Sure."
"I'm going up to Hightown." I said. Fenris nodded with me. Anders crossed his arms and glared at Fenris while he did the same. "Can you both stop?"
"He's a known abomination."
"And you are a slave."
"Yes, yes, just state the obvious between the both of you. Come on Fenris."
"You better not touch her." Anders said.
"What I do with her is none of your business." Fenris growled.
"Hey, you're both pretty, now stop. I'll see you later Anders." I saw him give me that puppy eye look but I ignored it for now and made Fenris walk.
"We are both pretty?"
"It got you to stop right? Don't think too much on it. You're not pretty. You're too manly to be pretty." I reasoned. Fenris chuckled.
"Then what am I?" He wondered.
"You're nice on the eyes, ah but still, another night mission? I'm getting tired of them. I just want to sleep." I sighed. I was so exhausted. Not only emotionally but physically. I'm not that young anymore and all the abuse was starting to catch up to me.
"Then sleep. I will go in your place." Fenris said.
"What? Why?"
"You are not waking on time for my breakfast."
"…I spoiled you didn't I?"
"Maybe." Fenris said. I chuckled.
"No, wake me up. If I don't wake up then it'll be my fault." Mostly because Sa-. I have to-. Then-. Here's to waking up for the night.
9:31 Firstfall 29th
I'm going to kill Fenris. I swear I am but I guess in part it was my fault since I got my bed in earlier and it was just soooo comfortable! I couldn't help but sleep the whole night.
At least I woke up refreshed and did a good breakfast.
"You missed it." Hawke said, eating the buttered bread and fried potato patties I gave her.
"If somebody woke me up like I told them too…" I said, glaring at Fenris.
"I tried to. All you did was grab my arm and mumbled into it." Fenris shrugged.
"I did not mumble!"
"Yes you did." Fenris said. "I had to pry away my arm." Leandra laughed at it all. I pouted. Gamlen was gone, again.
"You know I never see your uncle around here."
"What? You actually want to meet our uncle again after he almost kicked you out that one time?" Carver said.
"I'm just asking." I said, Jarvis curled up near my feet. I gave him a few scratches.
"Probably spending some time away from home. He got a bad letter from his debt collectors." Bethany said.
"How was the mission on the Wounded Coast?" I asked.
"We got rid of the mercenaries easily." Carver said proudly.
"Only because I used the frost to our advantage." Bethany commented.
"Well you needed a strong man to smash them to pieces."
"Nia can do it and she's not a strong man."
"She can barely lift my sword." Fenris said. Bethany choked and Hawke laughed. Carver cleared his throat and I face palmed.
"That's what she said!" Hawke hollered.
"You had to give them more fuel didn't you?" I rolled my eyes.
"It is not my fault her mind is in the gutter." Fenris said.
"Is that anyway to behave Eva?" Leandra asked.
"Sorry mother but you set yourself up for that one Fenris." Hawke giggled. He groaned and I shook my head.
"Hard to believe you live in the same house and not-" Carver started.
"You finish that thought Carver and I'll smash your face in. Then what will you do when you talk to Merrill?" I smirked.
"You know I've been talking to her?" Carver squeaked.
"And the truth is out." Hawke said. Carver's face turned red. "Now that we've finished breakfast, we might as well go hunt down our wayward mage."
"Please don't come back with blood pouring all over the floor. I still want to make sure this home stays clean you know?" Leandra said.
"Perish the thought mother. Are you coming?" Hawke asked.
"We're staying. It's been a while since we last walked all the way to the coast. My feet need the rest." Bethany said and I chuckled.
"Don't talk about walking around with nowhere to go with Nia. This one here traveled with Grey Wardens, all they do is walk." Carver said.
"You're right about that." I said. We came out of her house and I stretched. "So, where are we going?"
"Darktown. After getting rid of the kidnappers in the docks, that's where they say they last held Feynriel." Hawke said.
"Awesome, I could visit Anders there too." I said.
"One last person to pick up. She said she wouldn't forgive me if I forgot her." Hawke said, as we went on to the Alienage. I saw the people there look at us and whisper.
"Excuse me, are you the one that saved Lia from that monster?" A woman said, approaching me. She had hard lines on her face more so from worry and sadness than anything.
"I am." I nodded.
"Oh…Oh thank you, thank you. My girl…she was one of his victims too. Bless you for putting that monster in the grave." She said, shaking my hand. "You are welcome here friend."
"Thank you. I'm glad I was able to do something for you. Please take this." I said, grabbing the pouch that held smaller amount of coin. I gave her ten silvers.
"Bless you Serah, bless you!" She walked away with tears in her eyes. I was able to help the casteless. I hoped that someday I could help the Alienage elves as well.
"What was that about?" Fenris asked.
"I killed a serial killer that was preying on elvhen girls. He was blaming the 'demons' that were inside his head but he had none. He was just a sick and deranged man." I said, my voice becoming hard. Fenris stared at me. I looked at him and looked away. "I'm fine."
"And they say I brood." He rolled his eyes.
"I'm getting better." At least I think I am.
"Slightly."
"Aren't you a well of positive energy?" I glared at him.
"Are you two trying to out-brood each other? I have to watch this." Hawke said.
"They smile, well Nia smiles more than Fenris." Merrill said.
"Thank you." I said.
"But you're scarier when you're angry from what Carver tells me." Merrill said.
"…I'm scary?" I wondered, raising my eyebrows.
"Don't look so surprised." Hawke said. "Now let's go. The sooner we can get rid of slavers, the better."
"Aren't you a paragon of justice?" I rolled my eyes.
"I hate slavers." Hawke said, her voice losing that humorous edge. I sensed something there but I didn't push.
"It's such a nice day today! There hasn't been much snow on the ground. It makes my feet feel better." Merrill giggled.
"What's with elves and not wearing shoes? You do it too Fenris." I wondered.
"Habit." Fenris said.
"Shoes are too confining and I can't feel the roots as much when I'm traveling." Merrill said. We went over to the lifts and back to Anders' clinic. He was sitting down, making some elfroot potions when I knocked on the door.
"Hey, you coming to save the wayward mage?" I asked. He smiled and nodded at me.
"You caught me at a good time. I don't have many patients today." Anders said, patting me on the head.
"Yes, yes, stop with the fluff. Fenris, say something. He's going to steal her right in front of you." Hawke said.
"You enjoy saying stuff like that too much." I said.
"I have to take my enjoyment somewhere." Hawke laughed. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Her eyes became hardened though and her smile was gone. "The slaver should be ahead in Darktown." Hawke said, stomping toward them.
"Is it me or is Hawke angry? I don't think I said something wrong." Merrill said.
"I don't think that's it Merrill." I said. There was story here involving slavers and Hawke. I put a mental note to ask about that when I had time. We followed her down a flight of stairs to a slaver and his thugs around him.
"Well, well it's our lucky day boys. More volunteers! Clap 'em in irons. I'm sure the Tevinters will pay a lot of coin for the pretty ones."
"Make him talk about Feynriel." Hawke asked.
"I can do that." Fenris glowed and shoved his hand into the man's chest. I was thoroughly impressive.
"Ah! What in Andraste's flaming breeches did you do? Never mind. The boy is in a cave, a smuggler hideout in the Wounded Coast. The Tevinters will retrieve the boy today…C-Can I go?"
"Of course! Oh no, I meant no." Hawke smirked. I slashed the guy's throat with my daggers and the fight began. Seven guys in front of us. I did a leg sweep on three and Fenris went past and pushed a few off the ledge down into the sea. Merrill commanded the earth and swallowed the three that fell.
More thugs came by and I threw two more over the edge, evading one that tried to do that to me. Anders froze him and Merrill threw a piece of earth to shatter them. I came by and killed the man that Hawke pushed to the ground. Hawke went to the ground and went through the slaver's things.
"I got the map to the cave he was talking about in the Wounded Coast. I wonder if that's near the limping hills, or the heart attack bay?"
"Broke back mountain perhaps?" I said.
"That was a good one." Hawke chuckled.
"Oh that hurt so bad." Anders said. I giggled.
"You're happy!" Merrill said. I felt my face flush slightly.
"I think that was the first time you did a girly giggle." Hawke said, putting her arm around my shoulders.
"My giggle isn't girly!" I said my face getting redder.
"Giggles are always girly that's why only girls giggle." Hawke reasoned. "And you are technically female, so you giggle."
"You just like saying giggle don't you?" I chuckled.
"Yes!" Hawke said. I chuckled.
"So this is what being in a group of girls feels like." Anders said.
"They are woman, not girls." Fenris said.
"Could have fooled me." Anders chuckled. I pouted while Anders patted my head.
"It's good that you're happy. Don't frown, you've always looked better with a smile." Anders said. I stuck my tongue out at him. He laughed. We got out of the city. We had to walk the path to the wounded coast.
"It's been a while since I've been near the sea." I said.
"I like playing with the sand and finding the little hermits and collecting seashells." Merrill giggled.
"How could you stand it? The water is so cold." Fenris said.
"Perfect on a hot summer day." Hawke said.
"How would you enjoy the sea? Can you even swim?" Anders said.
"Nope!" Hawke said proudly.
"I can." I said.
"And she knows how to catch fish with her bare hands." Anders nodded.
"I won't believe it until I see it." Hawke said. The sun was on its way to setting by the time we reached the Wounded Coast. I smelled the sea air and was reminded of Amaranthine.
"You're doing that wistful look again." Anders said.
"I'm reminded of Amaranthine." I said softly.
"Ah yes, Deep Roads, haunted marshes, evil elves…"
"Velanna wasn't evil Anders."
"Not all elves are evil." Merrill said.
"What in Andraste's name did you both do in Amaranthine?" Hawke asked.
"A lot." I said.
"We have our few experiences." Anders said. We continued on the road toward the cave that the map showed us. I saw in the distance Qunari and then one moved. I grabbed Hawke by her collar and shoved her behind me. She was nearly skewered by a lance.
"Holy Andraste!"
"Get back now!" I shouted. Anders, Merrill, and Hawke kept back, using their respective magics to deal out ice, nature, and force spells. The qunari launched more of their lances but Fenris and I were able to evade them. Fenris summoned his power and ran, shoving his greatsword in a chest of one. There were four more to deal with and Hawke summoned a force spell. It didn't bring them down but it gave me a moment to cut one's throat. Merrill summoned a landslide and knocked the other three down. Fenris and I took care of them in that moment.
"Tal-Vashoth." Fenris said.
"What?" Hawke asked.
"Deserters of the Qun. They must have a headquarters around here." I said.
"Let's make sure we don't run into more. I was almost Hawke kabob!...Get it?" Hawke said. I chuckled while Fenris groaned. "Ok enough of that, let's go." We continued on and I saw a few humans getting harassed by elves.
"You probably don't even remember her name shem! Her name was Danyla and she was my mother. You and your kind killed her!"
"I-I'm sorry but…I was a werewolf back then…I did many horrible things."
"Your sorry doesn't bring back my mother!"
"You weren't the only victims. We were cursed by Zathrian's vengeance." When we walked passed them, the guy's eyes settled on me. "You…you are one of the…" The man moved towards me with a look of recognition.
"Hey." I raised my hand in greeting.
"You are one of the Hero of Ferelden's companions! You were there when the curse was lifted!"
"Don't move shem!" The Dalish woman kept him back while he stared at me. Hawke and the others stared at me.
"Please, help me convince her. We did not kill Danyla."
"You liar!" She shouted.
"What he's saying is true. I was there, I saw your mother." I said. The Dalish girl gave me a look.
"Then you were there when they killed her."
"They didn't kill her. Your mother turned into a werewolf. The Lady of the Forest gave her back her mind but she fled when she realized what she turned into. She wanted to go back to camp to see your father, Athras. But Zathrian made sure that all werewolves were savage beasts to your clan then. We found her in the forest, crying about the curse in her veins…she begged us to kill her." I explained.
"Then you were the one who killed her!" She shouted, grabbing at her weapons. I felt everyone get ready behind me but I didn't want to kill her.
"She gave your father her scarf back!" I shouted. She touched the scarf around her neck. "She was dying already. All she wanted to give to your father was her love…don't spit on her death." The Dalish woman glared at me with her dagger in front of me. I saw her eyes well up with tears.
"I…my father told me that my mother…had turned but I didn't want to believe it…I wanted to keep on blaming the shems and the werewolves…! Thank you stranger you…you made me see the truth. Let's go. We have no more business here." She said and she and the rest of her entourage left.
"I can't believe it. It has been nearly a year hasn't it?" The man said.
"It has. How are you adapting?" I asked sincerely.
"Things have been…harsh. The world is not like when we first left it so long ago. We are trying though to get by with what little we have." He sighed. I nodded and took out some silvers from my pouch.
"I hope this helps."
"Thank you. We never did get your name Serah."
"It's Nia Cousland."
"The Princess…? Many thanks your highness." The man and the rest of his friends left. A few gave me a few handshakes before leaving.
"What was that all about?" Hawke asked.
"I'll tell you about it later. We've wasted too much time." I said.
"I get the feeling that she's someone important." Merrill whispered to Hawke. We went down the path and found the cave that the map pointed to. We went in and there were a set of old tracks and mining carts. We went past those to some old wooden scaffolding and found five slavers waiting for us there. Anders let out a few freezing spells on the first two. I got both of them. Merrill hit one in the chest with an earth spell and Hawke pushed the last three down where Fenris got rid of them. The last one was stabbed in the chest by me.
Five more came from the other tunnels, hearing the commotion. Anders swept up his staff and made icicles appear. There were three lucky ones that stopped in time. The other two got impaled. Then Hawke pushed the other three into the icicles, causing them to be impaled as well.
"That's gruesome." I mumbled.
"Nothing you haven't seen before." Anders chuckled.
"Hm I did impale a Genlock once."
"You have so many stories to tell! I want to hear them all." Merrill giggled.
"Well-" I cried out when a lightning spell hit me. I knelt and I growled. The mage kept on moving here and there in an odd form of teleportation. He chuckled darkly at us.
"Stop him!" Fenris shouted.
"He keeps moving too much!" Hawke replied. There was a pattern though. I got into position and charged right as he teleported in front of me. I smashed in his face and smashed his head against the ground for good measure.
"Frigging A man. I hate lightning spells." I growled.
"Are you all right?" Anders asked, coming up and healing me quickly.
"I'm good. No weird heart beats or anything. Let's go." We went past the aging bridges and went down some stairs. We saw a group of slavers and the man that took Feynriel put a sword next to his throat.
"Take one more step and he dies!"
"I'll take those odds then." Hawke said.
"You are going down." Fenris said.
"Get the boy out of here!" I was having none of that. I jumped up the stairs, kicked the guy that was protecting Feynriel, and slashed at Varian. He blocked my slashes so I switched to my knuckles. His shield was denting and I saw Feynriel crouched behind me. I growled and tackled Varian and he fell off the ledge. I jumped and stomped on him with both feet. He gave out a gasp before I put my dagger in his throat. I evaded another slaver's slash before smashing him in the teeth.
I heard Feynriel shout, another slaver taking him by the arm. I felt that rage inside of me come out. It has gone down since I forgave Anders but no one will mess with another kid in my life. No one.
"Leave him alone!" I ran up and kicked the slaver off Feynriel but that left me open. I gasped in pain as I felt an arrow go into my shoulder. The slaver knocked me down and stabbed downward but I rolled away, doing a leg sweep and smashing his face against the ground.
"It's all clear!" Hawke shouted. I grabbed Feynriel and we went down the stairs.
"Nia your shoulder!" Anders panicked, coming up to me.
"It's fine. I just got shot with an arrow. No big deal."
"Only you would think that Nia." Anders said, taking out the arrow quickly. I hissed in pain before he healed it.
"You! He would have killed me if…if…his sword was at my throat and you…I mean, thank you, but what would you have done if you were wrong!?" Feynriel shouted.
"I must have been lucky? The stars are pointing in the right direction? I'm always right?" Hawke said.
"Good for you then. Who are you? You're not with the Templars are you?"
"No your mother sent me."
"That doesn't make much of a difference. It was always 'I love you and I will always protect you.' And then once I get nightmares she's 'off to the Templars!' So much for a mother's love."
"If you have other plans then I suggest you list them." Hawke said.
"Why do you care? You don't even know me." Feynriel said. She conjured up some spirit energy.
"I am you."
"Then I guess you would…understand. Do you know how I can reach the Dalish? I was trying to go there when I got caught up in all this mess. I'm as much Dalish as I am human!"
"Well if you can figure out how to make your ears pointy I'm sure they'll take you in. If not, at least get an arrow to the heart." Hawke shrugged.
"I'd rather die by the Dalish than go with the Templars. It's different here in Kirkwall, not like the Circle they have in Ferelden. You have no choice here and if you do wrong by the Templars, you will become tranquil. The Dalish are different, they have always had magic! They could take me in and teach me."
"You would be marked by your humanity in the people but not your magic. I think they will take you in." Merrill said.
"Well if you go off with the Dalish and, if you go crazy, it won't be on us." Hawke said happily.
"Yes because a Dalish mage never went crazy." Fenris rolled his eyes.
"I can think of one that did." I said.
"Thank you. I never thought that I would get this opportunity. I will never forget you." Feynriel said, leaving the cave.
"I hope you know what you are doing Hawke." Fenris glared.
"Oh come now Fenris, the boy gave me the puppy dog look! What did you expect me to do?" Hawke chuckled.
"Give him to the Circle." Fenris said.
"He was right though. If they learned of his abilities, they would make him tranquil just because they feared him." Anders reasoned.
"Better tranquil than an abomination." Fenris did a side glance look at Anders.
"Are you pointing fingers?" Anders said, crossing his arms.
"I do not think I am acquainted with anyone else that is an abomination." Fenris glared. I sighed and shook my head.
"Guys, enough. Let's go home. I don't want to argue in a cave." I said.
"Hold on. I have to loot all the bodies." Hawke said, rubbing her hands.
"You look way too happy doing this." I said.
"I'm glad you sustained us with your riches. I can't imagine you doing that." Anders said.
"Riches? Didn't you say you had no hold on the royal funds?" Hawke wondered.
"That doesn't mean I didn't have my own personal funds." I shrugged.
"Was it heavy? My pouch is never heavy unless I put rocks in there." Merrill said.
"Should we even ask Merrill?" I wondered.
"They look pretty."
Now that everyone has been introduced and Nia has found Anders, the healing chapters have started! I'm glad you all enjoyed the last chapter :3
Shout out to Lord Mizard, Supernatural Crossover Girl, and AirChampion for following/favoriting!
Anemone Iris Sidera: Naw, Carver doesn't but that doesn't mean that Nia isn't slightly more attractive to him now. Nothing will come, trust me.
Chimera Spyke: Yep, Isabela is stronger that she looks. :3 and what's the Wrath of Murphy?
Thank you Buggy300, EG, Undeadhero143, ThelonewolfNT, Dforce76, Narliea, WardenMahariel, and Taffy and Sweetrolls for reviewing! Please Review!