Chapter the Eleventh: "Cake or Death"


Author's Note: Hullo lovelies! Another new chapter. Hope you like it. I got a bit of negative feedback about the last chapter having game dialogue in it, as that is not my standard practice. Sorry! However, I will not be changing it. It was too beautifully done in the game, in my opinion. Enjoy this new chapter and please do leave a review! xoxo


AVELINE

9:31 Dragon, 16th of Guardian

"I'm not wearing a damned dress and that's the last of it!"

Seneschal Bran cowered at Aveline's anger, irritated, but at the same time everyone knew how formidable of a woman Aveline was. And when she was particularly angry, none were too proud to run for cover. He had come to tell Aveline that there would be a ball in a few weeks for the Viscount's birthday; unfortunately he had also mentioned that a dress would be included in the budget for her to wear. She hadn't taken it very well.

"Mmmm, what was that all about?" Isabela sauntered into her office, tracking dirt onto the carpet from her tall boots.

Aveline flopped heavily into her chair, kneading her fingers into her scalp. It had been an atrociously long and aggravating day. The unexpected arrival of the dirt-encrusted pirate was just another headache.

"Isabela..." She began, her voice weary and tired.

"Don't worry, I wasn't going to offer to take you...dress shopping. What colour do you think Donnic likes on his women? Want me to find out?" Isabela smirked, kicking her feet up on the second office chair, mud clumps smearing onto the dark, maroon leather.

Aveline tried to take a deep breath but failed. Instead she took the nearest book and lodged it at Isabela. She slumped back into her chair, letting her arms hang over the sides.

Retrieving the book she'd easily dodged, Isabela set it on the desk. Rough day, huh?" This time there was no teasing to the pirate's voice.

"Yes. Some of us work for our coin the honest way, which is much more tiring."

Giggling, Isabela stood. "Alright, Aveline. Have it your way. Don't forget we're celebrating Varric's birthday tonight at the Hanged Man."

Once her office was finally, mercifully empty and quiet, Aveline took a moment to relax and breathe deeply. It had been a long week. Today one of the roughest in some time. The conflict between the mages and templars was getting worse; as well as the tension between the guards and templars. Saemus and the Viscount were at odds again, to the point where Saemus was refusing to come out of his room or take meals until his father relented. Added to all of this, the usual problems and Kirkwall was no paradise as of late.

"The whole world's gone mad," she muttered, sitting up to draw a quill and ink towards her. She had to finish two reports: one, a disciplinary hearing about one of her guardsmen getting into a fist fight with a templar; the other was a tedious report on weaponry stock.

Once she'd gotten into the rhythm, the work came easily. She liked the neat rows of numbers and items. She was comforted by the orderliness of it all. She didn't hear Donnic knock.

"You look like you're concentrating," he said good-manneredly. Donnic scraped the dirt from the chair that Isabela had left and looked at Aveline. "May I, Guard Captain?"

"Of course, Guardsman Donnic. How may I help you?"

"I wanted to put forward a name for the post of head armorer..." Donnic began, looking at his hands. He seemed nervous, which was something Aveline had never seen from him.

"Alright, Donnic. Yes, we do need a new armorer and blacksmith. As you know, Ser Jamie died recently. Unfortunately, his apprentice Alen is leaving for Orlais and a post with the court there. So not only are we absent an armor-maker, we have no one to help us with repairs in the meantime. So I hope you have a candidate who is capable and can start soon." She finished, sighing heavily. She had almost forgotten about that, yet another headache she'd need to deal with.

The armorer and blacksmith for the guards had died suddenly. Embarrassingly enough, the burly man had drowned in a vat of ale; under suspicious circumstances. The man had been visiting his younger brother, who owned the brewery in town. Rumours placed the brother's wife as involved, but there was no inquest ordered.

"I do. My...older cousin, Courtenay. She has been serving as an apprentice to my father since she was a teen. She's quite skilled and she lives on the outskirts of Kirkwall. If I could leave to retrieve her, I could have her here in a day. I would vouch for her, personally."

Aveline considered for a moment. She was worried that by taking Donnic's suggestion, she'd be seen as coddling him. But no one else had put any names forward. The thought of another strong female presence in the barracks, or city for that matter, was heartening as well. I can always consider any other names that other guards put forward for apprenticeship. Courtenay will need help.

"Very well, Guardsman. Make haste and bring your cousin here. We'll try her on and see how she fits in." She smiled at him; even though she was exhausted, she did so like making him happy.


Once Donnic had left to pack, Aveline began tidying her office. The hour was late and she was ready to go home. Leandra had some sort of roast elk pie that she was baking, which Aveline was dying to try. The very thought of it made her mouth water.

Just as she was finishing up the last of her papers, another knock sounded at her door. Fighting back a frown and a heavy sigh, she gathered herself.

"Yes, enter," she called.

"Av, you wanted to see me?" Aurelia entered, her cheeks flushed, her bright eyes sparkling. Aveline almost didn't want to share the bad news. She knew that Aurelia had been very taken with the elf Fenris, since she met him; and that her pursuit of the man seemed to make her friend happy. But this was important and had to be dealt with.

"Hawke. Good to see you. Please close the door. What I'm about to tell you is not good news." She waited until her friend had closed the door and walked over to Aveline's desk. "I'm afraid there's been another rape. The description of the Templar...it matches your brother."


AURELIA

The magic had come back to her so easily. She almost reveled in it, the release from penning it all up for so long. Her powers had seemed to increase as well. She easily cast a large frost spell, essentially stopping no less than five bandits from moving. Twirling around, she showed off a bit as she brought her new staff to the ground with a fearsome thud. The impact shook the ground, laying the bandits out on their backs. One of them, still frozen to the ground, fell backwards with a sickening crack, his spine broken as he had bent from the knees backwards. Minutes later, the last of them were dead.

Aurelia's new staff had been a gift from Merrill. It was a Dalish piece, a slim, light thing. It looked like a branch from a tree with moss growing on it still, only it was smooth and had carvings here and there on it. At one end was a sharp, curved blade, in case an enemy drew too close for her to cast a spell. The other flared out into a square, enabling her to bring it down and rest on it or use it as a walking stick in the cliffs. It really was rather handy. Aurelia loved it and had thanked Merrill profusely. The younger Dalish mage said it had been one of her mothers' staffs, which was all the more touching to Aurelia.

This particular group of bandits they were fighting had been fighting had been hiding out in a cove on the far east side of Kirkwall's bay, preying on small vessels come to port. When Meeran had caught wind of it, he'd tasked Aurelia and the others with taking care of them. The bounty was hefty, too, so she had been enthusiastic about taking the job on.

Aurelia, Fenris, Anders and Merrill had gone to dispatch the bandits. Isabela was gone with Varric on the Knight of Kirkwall, a rented ship. They were tracking another lead on whatever it was that Is had lost. They were due back sometime today, though; Varric's birthday celebration was scheduled for that evening.

Fenris cursed, wiping his blade, the blood not wanting to come off. The sound of his voice, though agitated, made her blood leap. It brought an unbidden smile to her face, even though he seemed angry. Merrill giggled. Even poor, naive Merrill could tell that Aurelia was swooning for Fenris.

"Surrounded by mages. I may as well be back in Minrathous," Fenris continued to grumble as he put his sword up, finally divested of the sticky blood. They all began looting the bodies to search for treasure and coin.

Carefully, Aurelia worked her way closer to him. She was both excited by him and fearful of his reactions to her; which seemed to vary day to day since she had met him.

"Fenris?" She asked lightly, pulling a golden pocket watch from one dead bandit's pockets.

"Hmm?" The elf grunted, frowning up at her.

She exhaled sharply, forgetting what she was going to say. The light had glittered off Fenris' green eyes, the beauty of it stunning her.

Fenris frowned at her again. "Are you mute today? How very odd, usually you cannot seem to stop chattering." He kicked over the corpse he was searching and headed off to the other side of the cliff.

She was crestfallen. She had talked long into the night over wine and fruits with him and Isabela again, two nights ago. Did he truly loathe speaking to her? Abashed, she kicked one of the corpses into the water, off the side of the cove's dock.

"She was going to ask you if you were going to Varric's birthday party, tonight." Merrill, always blind to the consequences, happily intervened. She was cutting some herbs from a vine with one of the dead men's daggers. Aurelia shook her head and groaned, inwardly.

"I'm going. Want me to stop by and walk you there?" Anders materialized by her side, too close as usual. His musty, rank robes nearly caused her to gag. It was as if he never washed the blasted things.

She shoved away from him, angry. "It's not on your way, Anders and I don't want to you walk with you!" She snarled, picking her way back towards the dock. She threw her gear into their rowboat and took her place.

Rowing back seemed to give her time to cool off. When they were disembarking, she slipped and it was Fenris' hand that caught and steadied her own. The touch stole her breath. His skin was like silken lava, hot and soft. She lingered for a fleeting moment, enjoying the feel of his fingers wrapped protectively around hers. She didn't allow herself to look at him though.

I'm such a fool. I've barely known him a week and I'm stumbling all over myself. I don't even know what love is, surely it cannot be found in a forsaken week...

After she had tied the boat to the dock, she headed up the hill to join Merrill. Thankfully, Anders had patients to see and had rushed off as soon as they'd landed.

"I've business to attend to. If you need me, you know where I live," Fenris announced, striding off into the throngs of people drifting around the docks.

Her shoulders sagged, watching Fenris blend into the market crowd. His touch on her hand was still seared into her mind and would be on her memory for some time to come.

Merrill interrupted her dark thoughts. "I think I will need a bath before Varric's party. I made him the prettiest scarf but Raento ate it." The elf scrunched her face up into a frown. Aurelia laughed.

The Mabari puppy that Aveline and Donnic had found was living with Merrill. The elf had been delighted with the dog, which had imprinted easily onto her. Merrill's neighbor looked after Raento when she was out until the hound would be big enough for training and adventuring.

"Mother made Varric a huge cake, Aveline said. Rum butter and vanilla. I bought him a flask carved with dwarven Paragons, from that traveling merchant who was in the bay yesterday." Aurelia replied as she and Merrill headed up the hill.

"Oooh, that sounds lovely. Well, I'll see you tonight," Merrill said as they parted ways to each head home.

Aurelia, on a whim, decided to walk to the docks instead. A new merchant had set up a stall with an assortment of goods. She was trying to be frugal with her money; she nearly had her portion of the investment for the Deep Roads saved up. Just a few more sovereigns. A book caught her eye, however. The dark brown leather cover was worn and cracked. The spine read The Book of Shartan/A Slave's Life. After the merchant had given her a brief explanation of its contents, she decided to purchase it for Fenris. She was so pleased with her purchase she didn't realize she was being followed home.

xxxxxxxxxx

She'd been denied an audience with Knight Commander Meredith. Crumpling up the missive, she shooed the messenger out of her office before retreating herself and locking the door.

I need more information on the templars, Carver especially. As she still had an hour before Varric's party, she decided to take a trip to get information.

She swung by home, quickly, to change. Leandra was putting the finishing touches on Varric's cake. The thing was monstrous; she wasn't sure how she'd carry it down to the Hanged Man. It also amused her to no end that Varric had charmed the normally stuffy Leandra.

After putting on simple leathers in soft brown and cream hues, Aveline headed towards the Blooming Rose. With as straight a face as she could muster, she found a half-drunk street urchin and paid him to seek out the whore called Sarah and give her a message.

Waiting in the shadows of the alley beside the Rose, it wasn't long before Sarah appeared. When she saw Aveline, a look of shock and then smugness registered on her pocked, heavily rouged face. The whore sauntered over to Aveline.

"My dear Guard Captain, I do have a side entrance to my rooms. For fifty extra silver you can come...and come discreetly," she purred, leaning towards her.

With one fluid, swift movement Aveline snatched the girl by the wrist and shoved her into the dark alley. The painted whore tripped over her long gown and high heels. Aveline grabbed her again, pinning her wrist roughly behind the girl's back and shoving her into a wall.

"Shut your foul mouth, harlot," she hissed, landing a menacing glare at Sarah.

"Whoa. I don't do the rough stuff. You want Antiara for that," she said disdainfully as she squirmed away from her.

"Wait...what do you mean?" Aveline questioned the woman, pushing away from her but drawing her short sword for good measure.

"You obviously aren't here for a tumble. Although you could very well do with one, surely. Antiara handles our...rough clients. Lacey used to as well. Before...well, before." The whore faltered, looking troubled.

"Lacey? Tell me about her."

"I'm going to need more coin. And can we go up to my room, it's dank here." Sarah looked around herself in disgust.

"Not nearly as dank and dark as my dungeon cells are. The ones I keep for those who..." Aveline began menacingly.

"Jeez. Okay. Lacey's worked at the Rose for a year. She came from Antiva. She's got a young sister she's taking care of, doesn't want her working. Pretty little thing, too. She'd make a lot of coin if Lacey would let her work. Old enough, too."

"How do you know what her sister looks like if she doesn't work at the Rose?" Aveline wasn't convinced.

"Once she came into the Rose early, before the evening started, to bring Lacey some food. Now Lacey's dead."

"What happened to her?" Aveline was worried now.

"Bandits. Her sister came in, last week, to clean her room out. Her face was all busted up, too. Said they were attacked by bandits on the Wounded Coast while they were picnicking. Said Lacey died and she left her body there. Madame wouldn't pay her Lacey's last share though."

Aveline considered all of the information for a few moments. "Thank you. Here's your entrance fee to your second door. Use it. Never tell a soul we spoke, or I promise you this alley will look like paradise compared to the cell I will throw you in."

Although she felt bad for bullying the girl, she had realized just how big of a problem she was dealing with and needed to keep her investigation under wraps for now.

Carver and some other Templars must have murdered Lacey after they raped her sister. That's when she came to the barracks to seek aid. She said Lacey brought men home frequently for money on the side. They must have noticed her. "Damnit," she swore, heading home to grab the cake and leave for Varric's party.


AURELIA

Varric's room was warm and comfortable. He and Isabela had made it home safely, although Isabela was vexed that whatever they had been after hadn't panned out. Varric was busy telling everyone about a ghost ship that they been sighted not far from the coast, a great monstrous ship, just swaying in the waves.

Her attention caught, she filled her cup and settled into the nearest seat. Aveline, too, must have heard Varric as her friend settled into the chair next to her. Merrill and Anders were trying to clear the table of Varric's gifts and everyone's food so they could play cards and drink. Isabela was sitting next to Varric; her long legs divested of their customary boots and snuggled into the dwarf's lap. As far as Varric went, he seemed content. He had a successful trip, from the way he told it, of pillaging and his pirate princess was...well, partially curled into his lap. Aurelia smiled at them as she sipped her wine.

She had been watching the door all night for Fenris. So far, he hadn't shown up. Although she was content with helping her friend celebrate, she longed to see him.

"I don't remember the ship's name, oddly enough, Red. Why? Lose a ship?" Varric chuckled as he took a long draw from his tankard.

"Actually, yes. The ship that carried Aurelia and I here. We never heard what happened to it. It never docked in Kirkwall," Aveline said, frowning.

Aurelia patted her friend's hand. They were both thinking of the little girl who had been silently screaming, pleading for help from the porthole as they had rowed to their freedom. Aurelia shivered.

"It's more likely that it sank, and then drifted about for well over a year," Isabela scoffed.

"Did it have any rowboats on the side?" Aurelia asked.

The pirate scrunched her face up, thinking. "No...you know, I don't think it did. How odd. Do you remember any, Varric?" Isabela turned towards her paramour, who was busy shuffling a deck of playing cards.

"I don't think so. That is odd," he commented cheerily.

She and Aveline exchanged a glance. There was no chance that survivors would be left on the ship this long, but something made Aurelia want to see the ship, perhaps do something for the dead. Some of their belongings might still be in their cabin. She let it drop, for the moment though and shifted the cards Varric handed her.

A knock sounded at the door. Aurelia swung around in her chair, excited. She was stunned to see Saemus head pop through the doorway. She couldn't leap from her chair quick enough.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, Little Hawke. I sprung Junior here from his prison, legitimately." Varric was laughing as Aurelia threw herself into Saemus' arms.

They hadn't seen each other in weeks. She hadn't felt whole without her best friend. Even his letters had stopped, the Viscount was that determined to keep them apart. Saemus squeezed her tight; she buried her face into his shoulder.

"I was so worried," she muttered. Saemus stroked her hair.

"I'm fine, Sister," he whispered.

"Excuse me," came a deep voice from behind them. Fenris was trying to shove the door open enough to squeeze into the room.

The amused glance he shot Aurelia's way at her embracing Saemus turned her face scarlet. She let go of her friend, trying to compose herself. Although she was mesmerized by the elf's presence, she was too emotional from being reunited with her friend to focus on him.

"What happened, you must tell me everything," she urged, grabbing his hand and dragging him to a seat beside her. The large round table would sit many people, but it was becoming crowded. Isabela scooted her chair closer to Varric's to accommodate the new guests; she was already practically in Varric's lap and would likely have been, if Varric would have tolerated it. Aurelia was too busy chattering with Saemus to notice that she had been wedge between he and Fenris.

She still hadn't noticed until Varric had pounded on the table to start the game. She threw in a few chips and made to move her chair, when she noticed that it was stuck in Fenris'.

"Not much room, sorry," Fenris apologized, smiling at her casually.

She felt like a fool, gaping at him. Saemus poked her in the ribs and she nodded her head and returned to the game. Varric, who was sitting next to Fenris as well, laid out a pair of cards and leaned in to whisper something to Fenris. Both men broke out in deep laughter. Aurelia had a hard time focusing on her hand.

"You're pitiful, Sister," Saemus jested next to her.

"Verrrrry funny," she said back, sticking her tongue out at him.

It was hard being so physically close to Fenris and not focusing her entire being on drinking in that feeling. However, Saemus was her rock and his presence calmed her. She was able to balance her emotions, catching up with him in between the games and drinks. The evening wore on, she was even able to ignore Anders, who was, miraculously, not badgering her but instead discussing some magical mirror with Merrill.

"Have you been able to contact Ashaad at all?" Aurelia asked? She clicked her tongue, she'd lost the last three games and this hand didn't look much better. She sorted her cards once more, finding one that had been stuck to the back of another. "Aha!" She laid two pairs in front of her, winking at Varric.

Saemus giggled nervously. "I can't really talk here," he whispered sideways at her. "After the party, walk with me, I'll tell you the rest," he grinned. She smiled back at him, leaning her head on his shoulder. It was so comforting to have him back at her side.

"Oho! I win again!" Varric swept the winnings towards him. Everyone muttered a collective sigh.

"I'm cleaned out, I'm going home," Aveline grumbled, standing up. "Happy Birthday Varric," she said, pushing her chair in.

"Thanks for coming by, Red. I'll work on that information you asked for tomorrow," the dwarf replied.

Aveline nodded and headed out the door. Isabela was all but snoring on Varric's shoulder, having drunk twice her weight in rum and other spirits.

Merrill yawned loudly. "Daisy, I think you ought to head out too, let me get someone..." Varric began.

"I'll walk her, we go the same way," Anders volunteered. The mage stood, pulling Merrill's chair out for her, but a little too swiftly, as the elf almost toppled to the floor. "Woops. I'm a little clumsy," Anders covered.

"Thank the Maker it's not me," Aurelia muttered, sighing happily against Saemus' shoulder.

"You two lovebirds going to beat it soon, too?" Varric asked, teasing.

Aurelia threw a chip at him. "It's not like that with us and you know it!" Her face was flushed from irritation and drink.

"Calm down, Aurelia," Varric chuckled. "I need to get Is here to bed, my shoulder is falling asleep," he said.

"What room does she go to, I can carry her," Fenris offered, cleaning up his mess.

It was Aurelia's turn to giggle. "Oh, Fenris, Isabela sleeps in Varric's bed more than he does," she quipped. Fenris looked slightly confused.

"It's alright, Broody, the pirate and I don't make a deal out of it," Varric said, sweeping his coins into a bag.

"Deal out of what?" Fenris still didn't understand.

It was Saemus turn to intervene. "Fenris, my good fellow, Isabela may not have the best, erm, standing with the rest of Kirkwall, but to those of us who know her, she is very much Varric's girl." They all laughed as they cleaned up their messes. All but Fenris. Only Aurelia caught the quick, dark frown that had creased his brow for a moment.

"My apologies. I shall see myself out, then. Happy umm, birthday, Varric." The elf strode silently from the room without a word to anyone else.

Aurelia tilted her head, a little confused by his abrupt departure. She turned to Saemus as she stood. "Are you heading home?"

"I thought I might see if I could possibly impede on your hospitality," Saemus answered, a wicked grin on his face. Aurelia laughed.

"Oh Maker, yes, if for the rumours we'll start alone," she replied. She, Varric and Saemus roared with laughter.

A few minutes later, they'd said goodnight and made their way to her room upstairs. Aurelia wasn't ashamed in front of Saemus and so stripped to her tunic and underclothes immediately after entering the room. Saemus laughed, following suite and removing all but his breeches. As if they'd read one another's minds, they both took off for the bed at a running pace, jumping and flopping onto it, dissolving into gales of laughter.

Aurelia became serious for a moment as they both wrestled themselves under the blankets. "I wish Carver had been like this growing up," she said. They propped themselves up on their elbows to talk.

"I'm sorry, dear," Saemus replied, pulling a worn letter from his trousers.

"What's that?" Aurelia asked, distracted.

"A leeeettter," he said, teasing her, lifting it high above her head.

"Saemus Dumar! Who is it from!?" She demanded, trying to snatch the letter. He waved it away from her, tickling her side. She shrieked and moved away.

"Tyrant!" She yelped, wrestling to get the letter away from him. After rolling around the bed, pinching and tickling one another, she finally pinned him don, laying over his side and plucked the letter from him. "Aha! I win!" Breathless, she wiggled down off him to curl at his side, propping her head up against his arms. He had both folded above his head.

Aurelia gasped. "Oh, Saemus! It's a love letter from Ashaad!" She looked up at him, delighted.

"Mhhm," he said simply, smiling happily.

"What shall you do?" She asked as she read the brief, romantic missive. The writing was crude, as if the Qunari had just learned to write. This was all the more likely, considering Saemus' company.

"We're going to run away," Saemus replied simply, closing his eyes.

Aurelia let the letter flutter to the bed. She was torn. She looked up at Saemus, whose eyes remained closed and watched as his chest became slow, his breathing deep as he slept.

She was very happy for him. She knew her friend was in love with the Qunari man and that the feelings were reciprocated. But the Qun intimidated her. Not to mention the sorrow she'd feel if Saemus was taken from her again. He was her surrogate sibling, as much a part of her as she was herself. She wrestled with the nagging sensation that was her selfishness. She wanted Saemus to be happy. She knew he would be with Ashaad. But there was just that part of her that wanted to keep her friend right here with her, to face life's trials and triumphs. What good was life, after all, if you didn't have someone to understand and revel in it with? Frowning sadly, she snuggled as close to Saemus as she could. She laid her head on his chest, listening to his deep, contented breathing. Almost automatically, he laid his arm around her in his sleep, drawing her close. She wanted to stay awake and enjoy Saemus' company, but she was too drunk and too tired. She finally allowed her eyes to drift shut, content in her warm cocoon. Aurelia was loved and she was safe. A rare thing, a happy thing.