Sorry it took so long to get another chapter out. I got sidetracked rewriting my story "The Choice" (check it out and see if you like the new version better than the original) and playing Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception and Skyrim (especially Skyrim- its great!)

Thanks to everyone that has been following this story (please review!), and a special thanks to Cenwyn and Integra Hawke for all their invaluable input.

And as always… thanks to BioWare and the DA writers.

Chapter Eleven

Hawke listened intently to the distraught elf couple that stood before her. She had agreed to meet them here, in Darktown, after a note had been sent to her estate requesting her help. Hawke had come to the meeting place alone, but had informed Bodahn where she had gone, just in case.

The abandoned mineshafts, now known as Darktown, was not a place that even the best well-armed individuals cared to frequent on a regular basis, for the slums were home to many of the nefarious criminal element that plagued Kirkwall. The abandoned tunnels had become a base of operations for those that participated in various types of shady commerce, from the slightly questionable to the most disreputable and illegal sorts of business transactions.

It was also a place that the poorest and most desperate of Kirkwallers called home. These were the forgotten citizens of Kirkwall…the hopeless…the lost… the sick and the poor. And these were the very kind of people that Hawke endeavored to help the most.

"Now tell me exactly when it was you saw your daughter last," instructed Hawke. She looked at the light-haired female elf and asked kindly, "What was your daughter's name?"

"Tariel… and the last time we saw her was… when we tucked her in and… wished her good-night," answered Gadrial with a small sob, "around the tenth hour of the evening…"

Gadrial put her hands to her face and began to sob softly. Her husband put his arm around her shoulder in a gesture of comfort. "Messere Hawke… please help us find our little girl. She is only eleven years of age and all we have… we will gladly give you everything we own if you will only say that you will help us get her back."

Hawke had heard this story all too often in the past. The city elves were prime targets for slavers that sold the young elven males and females to the Tevinter Magisters to fuel their constant need for slaves and for the sacrifices needed to fuel their dark blood magic.

"Dasrel, of course I will help. And it is not necessary to pay me," replied Hawke, but then quickly added when she saw the male elf's prideful look, "but I will gladly accept whatever coin you can afford." She gave the elf a quick smile when she saw his obvious relief.

"I have already learned from some of my contacts, that a ship is docked a few miles off the Wounded Coast, and that this ship is a slave ship bound for Tevinter. It has been there for three days now, so most likely it will only be there for another day or two, before sailing on to Tevinter to unload its cargo of slaves."

"But how will you be able to rescue Tariel, if she is already on the ship?" asked Gadriel tearfully. "She must be so scared..."

"She won't be on the ship yet. The slave traders will have Tariel, and whomever else they have abducted, sequestered in one of the caverns along the Wounded Coast. As long as the ship is docked well off the coastline, we have time," Hawke informed the two elves. She gave them an understanding smile and said, "I know the waiting is hard… but have faith. I will do everything within my power to see your daughter home safe."

Dasrel held out his right hand to Hawke. "Thank you, Champion, for your help. May the Maker watch over you."

Hawke took his offered hand and shook it firmly. "May the Maker watch over us all."

After advising the parents not to speak to anyone about their daughter, and to wait for her to contact them again, Hawke took her leave and went to find Anders in his clinic. She was going to need help getting Tariel away from the slave traders, and she knew that Anders, as always, wouldn't hesitate to fight by her side.

Hawke navigated her way along the dirt and refuse covered passageways, trying her best not to breathe in too deeply the foul smelling chokedamp that rose in poisonous fumes from the sewers. More than a few of the inhabitants would nod to her or call out her name in greeting as she travelled. Hawke was well-known in the Undercity- the other name locals often used for Darktown - to both criminals and non-criminals alike.

Before long, Hawke climbed the wide wooden steps to one of the upper levels where Anders' clinic was located. Even though the two entryway doors were shut, the outside oil lamp was lit, signaling that Anders' clinic was open for business. Hawke swung open the nearest door and stepped inside.

Hawke immediately spotted Anders in the center of the busy large room. He was bent over the form of a young girl that was lying down on the examination table. The girl's parents were hovering anxiously near the wide wooden table, watching Anders as he worked on their daughter. There were several other people, either sitting on chairs or standing about the room, that waiting patiently for their turn to see the healer. Some of the people waiting gave Hawk tentative smiles and others just nodded their heads in greeting, all of which she returned.

Anders looked up briefly and gave Hawke a quick smile of acknowledgement before returning his attention once again to his young patient.

Hawke walked to the back of the room to the makeshift sleeping area that Anders used whenever he found himself too weary to return to his room at her estate. Hawke yawned and then lowered herself down upon the small cot to sit and wait for Anders. Before long however, Hawke's eye lids began to droop as she sat and watched Anders. For several moments Hawke fought against the pervasive feeling of tiredness that was laying claim to her body, but soon she gave in and closed her eyes and within moments she was fast asleep.

"Cat. Cat… wake up." Anders put his hand on Hawke's shoulder and gently shook her.

Anders' voice slowly penetrated through the fog of her slumbering mind. Hawke felt a hand on her shoulder and opened her eyes. Anders' face came into focus as she groggily blinked her eyes a few times.

"Cat, I'm sorry I had to wake you, but you have a message." Anders, eye level to Hawke, sat back on his haunches and waited for her to rouse herself fully and sit up.

"Anders- how long have I been sleeping?" she asked as she hastily sat upright on the cot. Hawke didn't even remember falling asleep. She peered inquisitively into Anders' face. "What message?"

Anders smiled and standing up he handed her the note. "The answer to your first question is two hours… and I have just handed you the answer to your second question."

Hawke's forehead furrowed slightly as she read the short note. "Andraste's blazing ass!" she cursed. She glanced up at Anders, who was looking down at her in some alarm. "We've got to go now," Hawke said, "the blasted ship is leaving tonight." She had hoped that she would have had more time to plan her attack on the slavers. And to find the right cave.

"Go where now? What ship are you talking about, Cat?" asked the bemused Anders. He had no idea what Hawke was talking about.

Hawke noticed that the clinic was now empty, save for her, Anders, and the stray cats he fed daily. "Where did everyone go? You finished healing all those people in two hours?" she asked him, amazed that he had finished his work in such a short period of time.

"The little girl took the longest to heal for she had some internal injuries due to a fall. Everyone else just had minor injuries or problems," he replied matter-of-factly. "Once I healed the last person, I closed the clinic for the rest of the day." Anders gave her a probing look. "I assumed that by you showing up here, that you required my help for some task." He raised an eyebrow at her. "Am I right?"

"Yes, you are." Hawke studied Anders' face for a moment. She noticed his disheveled appearance and the tired lines that were creasing his face. Hawke suddenly felt guilty for asking for his help, for it was obvious that he was worn out. "Anders, are you alright? You look tired… maybe you should sit this one out."

Anders smiled again and then reaching a hand down to Hawke, he pulled her to her feet. "I'm fine, Cat. Whatever trouble you've gotten yourself into, count me in. I could do with a bit of fun," he said with a grin.

"Why do you think it's my trouble?" she asked but then cut him off before he could answer. "Don't answer that- I can see by your expression that you were about to say something highly irritating."

Anders just gave an amused chuckle and then asked, "So are you going to tell me what's going on or not?"

"We are going to rescue a young elven girl from slavers. I've just received word that the ship is going to leave for Tevinter tonight, so we have to go to the Wounded Coast now… before it's too late."

Anders didn't say anything for a moment. "You're planning on having more than just the two of us go, aren't you?" he finally asked.

"Of course, Anders… I'm not a fool. I'm going to get Varric to come with us… and perhaps Aveline."

Anders shook his head when Hawke mentioned Aveline. "As much as it pains me to say this," he said with a grimace, "you should have Fenris go with us- not Aveline." Anders sighed when Hawke adopted her usual defensive posture- crossed arms in front of her chest- which she always did whenever she was told something she did not want to listen to, or did not agree with. He reached out and placed a hand upon the top of her crossed arms and said in a quiet voice, "Cat, if you were my woman and were carrying my child, I would want to be by your side, helping to protect you. In fact I would insist upon it." Anders wasn't altogether happy that he was taking Fenris' side, but he was more concerned with Hawke's welfare than with his aversion to helping the elf.

Hawke gave a long sigh but she could see Anders' point. She knew that Fenris would feel the same way. Yet just because she could see his side of things, didn't mean that she liked it- or agreed with it. But Hawke couldn't afford to waste time bickering over who would accompany her when lives were at stake. Besides, she admitted to herself, Fenris is better suited to deal with the slave traders, and he does have a particular hatred for them. Maybe killing a few slave traders will keep his mind off other things- namely me fighting.

"Okay…you win. I need to go back to the mansion and change. Do me a favor and go to The Hanged Man and get Varric, then meet me at my home. I'll get Fenris."

Hawke started to depart but then she stopped and turned back to regard Anders. He returned her look with an inquisitive one of his own, wondering why she had stopped.

"Thank you for being such a good friend, Anders." She gave him a grateful smile. "I know being friends with me hasn't always been easy on you," she said with a small self-deprecating laugh.

Anders gave her a quick smile and then his expression turned serious. "Cat… I can honestly say that without your support and friendship these past six years, I wouldn't have been able to stay sane."

"You will always have my support and friendship, Anders… always."

Anders gave her a poignant smile and replied, "Don't be too quick to say that, Cat… you may someday live to regret it."

A troubled look flitted across Hawke's face as she tried to fathom the meaning of Anders' words.

Anders, turning and walking away from Hawke to retrieve his staff, said over his shoulder to her, "Better get going, Hawke…"

Hawke paused only a moment longer, and then she turned back towards the entryway and departed the clinic. The day was growing late, and she needed to hurry. Hawke knew that if she and the others didn't reach the right cavern before nightfall, Tariel would be lost to them forever.