"Where's my coin, dwarf?" Fenris said good-naturedly to Varric after they spotted him staring into a fire at the Hanged Man.
Varric ignored him, or did not seem to hear. Hawke giving a questioningly look at Fenris, lifted her hand and tapped Varric on the shoulder. He jumped and gave a short "yelp" as he turned.
"Varric?" Hawke asked, curiously. She's never seen Varric this way, and it was most surprising.
"I…" Varric started, then furrowed his eyebrows. "Sorry, Hawke. I'm a bit preoccupied."
"I see that." Hawke said, a small smile on her face. "Pint?"
Varric sighed, looking as if he might protest but, "I need one."
As Fenris offered to grab them, Hawke sat across from Varric on a nearby table, Varric looking incredibly uneasy.
"What's this about, Varric?"
Varric made a noise between a snort and a grunt. "My brother."
"You're brother?" Hawke said, nodding her head in thanks to Fenris who had come back and was handing each of them a tankard.
Varric was playing with his cup, his eyes somewhere else. "It's ancient history, but remember that Hightown house Bartrand barricaded himself in?"
Hawke nodded taking a sip of the ale, and began to cough rather violently. Fenris patted her back suppressing a laugh as she continued. Varric didn't seem to notice her episode as he continued speaking.
"Well, now that's he's dead. I've been trying to sell it."
"I can only imagine there's a huge market for the homes of deranged killers." Hawke said, wiping tears from her eyes and pushing the tankard away with a face.
Varric looked up. "The creepy sort of people who are interested are generally not the ones with the coin to take it off my hands." He sighed, taking a deep swig from his pint, then continued. "I found a minor noble in Rivain who bought the place, site unseen. But now, there's a problem."
"Hmmm." Hawke said. "If they hadn't seen the place, I'd expect the first complaint to be about the corpses in the hall."
Varric shook his head looking very serious. "I may have neglected to mention the mansion's…colorful past to the buyer."
He didn't say anything after that. He drained his drink then reached for Hawke's abandoned one and took another deep swig.
"What's happened, Varric?" Hawke said, very concerned.
"The buyers have noticed some minor problems," Varric began again, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. "Voices whispering in the walls, apparitions, things moving on their own."
Hawke raised her eyebrows. "Spirits? Ghosts?"
"My hope is, it's the relic Bartrand brought back from the Deep Roads." Varric continued suddenly slamming his cup on the table. "We smash it, and the haunting stops."
Hawke looked at him. Varric was angry, it was so strange. She could only assume he was blaming Bartand. "Very well. We'll investigate the mansion. Again."
"Thanks, Hawke." Varric told her. "I knew you wouldn't let me down."
"Will you be alright, Varric?" Hawke said looking at him.
Varric nodded. "Let's just do this."
"Hello, you three." said a voice from behind them.
Hawke and Fenris turned as Varric looked up. Merrill and Isabela were standing behind them, friendly smiles on their faces.
"What is this about a haunted house?" Isabela said looking excited as she sat beside Varric. Merrill, after giving Fenris a wide birth, settled herself beside Hawke.
"Bartrand." Varric grunted.
"OOh." Merrill started, looking at Varric, her mouth slightly opened. "Can I come?"
"Being rid of daemons is what we are doing," Fenris growled looking at her. "not summoning them, maleficar."
"Fenris..." Hawke started when Merrill replied to him, completely unfazed, "It sounds like fun, I've never been to a haunted house before. I wonder what makes a home haunted?"
"Ghosts, kitten," Isabela said. "When I had my ship, the men would talk about them all the time. You could never get your fill, either, since the stories always changed."
Merrill sighed looking at Isabela. "Your life has been…so exciting. The adventures, the duels, the passionate love affairs. Compared to that, my life is a stale, dry biscuit. I wish I had your life."
Isabela patted her arm with a sad smile. "No, kitten. You don't want my life."
Merrill furrowed her eyebrows. "Why?"
"Because you have a good heart and you deserve better." Isabela said firmly.
Hawke felt Fenris shift his weight, his thoughts not conceding to what Isabela said and looked as if about to say something, but Hawke wrapped her arm around his, making him look at her, and he kept his mouth shut.
"So, you and Fenris, eh?" Isabela said notching Hawke and Fenris. "What about..us?" Hawke said, feeling the heat rising to her cheeks.
"That taut, controlled body, brooding demeanor and intense gaze…" The pirate said, smiling even more broadly at Hawke's uncomfortable face. "I hear he still wear the shackles from his life in bondage…under his clothes. You know what they say about men like that, don't you?"
"What?" Merrill asked as Varric was chuckling, watching Isabela, a new pint in his hand. Fenris said nothing beside her, but Hawke saw a small smile on his lips. Hawke raised a hand to her forehead, closing her eyes and sighed.
"I'm going to regret asking you to continue, aren't I?"
"He can't find a saw!" Isabela burst out laughing, slapping the table in front of her looking at Hawke's face, which made her laugh more. "I had you there! You thought I was going to say something dirty!"
Hawke could not help but smile, biting the edge of her lower lip. Merrill was looking quite confused, and Varric laughed along with Isabela. Hawke also heard Fenris chuckling, looking at her from the corner of his eye.
"All right, Isabela." Hawke said loudly, but the pirate was still laughing uncontrollably, holding on to her sides.
"Your hair standing on end as well, Hawke?" Varric started staring at the door.
"Just your nerves, Varric." Hawke said reaching for the door handle. "I do have to wonder why we're doing this at night, though."
They walked in, and Hawke felt a sudden rush of cold on her skin, making her shudder uncontrollably. "I didn't like that…" she said softly.
No one said anything as they continued the familiar path through the back door. They were keeping an eye out for anything unusual, but nothing seemed to be happening.
"What is..that?" Varric suddenly said, looking around him, as if he found something. "Hey…is that music? Where do you think it's coming from?"
"I don't hear anything." Hawke said looking at him, curiously.
"Something in this house is restless." Fenris said, looking around as well.
THe groups continued on, a strange stillness in the air. Hawke reached for a door, but it was locked. She felt another sudden rush of cold move past her, making her jump.
"I really should've gone to the privy before coming in here." Isabela said, sounding worried. She was rubbing her arms as if she felt it too.
"Hawke?" Merrill started, reaching out for Isabela's arm. "Varric? I would really like to leave soon."
Hawke sighed softly, mustering up her courage and motioned the others to follow Varric. He was already ahead, trying to reach something the others were unaware of. Hesitating, the group followed followed, anxious looks on their faces. Hawke slowly turned the handle of a door and this time, it opened.
"I guess the buyer wasn't kidding." Varric said pointing and watching a vase floating in the air fro a few seconds.
"I's not suppose to do that, is it?" Merrill said, her eyes following the vase, a nervous hand to her lips.
"Magic is at work here." Fenris said, walking slowly up to the vase, watching but not touching.
"You know, that would be quite the trick at parties." Isabela said, with a small feeble laugh.
"I'll invite you to the next noble party I go to, Isabela." Hawke said, uneasily.
"Oh, would you?" the pirate replied following Hawke. "I can go for some noble blood."
"Ew." Merrill said beside her.
They continued moving forward, trying to open some doors, but finding others locked as they found their way deeper into the house. It was obvious something was leading them a certain route. They finally reached a familiar looking hallway and they heard odd whispering and laughing. Then, quite unexpectedly, the door slammed behind them.
Hawke jumped, reaching for her chest. She caught her breath, shivering; she felt incredibly cold.
"The disturbances are growing stronger." Fenris said, in a low voice, peering at the door behind them.
"We get it already!" Isabela angrily said loudly to no one in particular. She seemed to trying to calm her nerves. "House Haunted. You can stop now?"
"Hello?" Merrill said, now clinging onto Isabela with white-knuckled grips. "Messere ghost? Would you stop that, please?"
"We're getting closer, Hawke." Varric suddenly said. His face was sweating oddly enough and looked determined about something. "I can feel it."
With her hands in fists, Hawke continued to walk further down the hallway. Again, whispers and laughter seemed to be coming from the walls but this time, Hawke watched the sources, running out of the walls into another room, and another door slamming behind them.
Isabela shrieked as she pointed, making everyone in the room jump. All heads turned toward her, "Er…sorry."
"Powerful magic," Fenris started behind Hawke. He slowly placed his hands on Hawke's arms, and began to rub them. Perhaps his own way of calming himself? She was grateful all the same, she needed to feel something warm. "or many thousands of deaths, must have happened here."
"Setheneran…" Merrill said in wonder at the door the shadows ran through. "what happened here? It wasn't like this before, was it?"
Hawke looked at Varric. His face was rea, and sweat was pouring out of his pores profusely. "Varric…"
Varric did not say anything but continued walking forward, not bothering with doors, but deliberately moved to one at the end of the hall. He reached for the handle and turned it.
He walked in as Hawke and the others followed closely behind. Inside, there was a rather disheveled room that looked as if it hadn't been touched in a long time. Three massive armoires lined up on of the walls, and piled in front of them were large piles of dwarven artifacts, such as dish ware, armor, swords, and various other things. A desk was sitting quietly in another corner piled high with parchment, crawling in spiderwebs.
Varric grunted looking around. "Look at this, my brother's junk was left here."
The others moved around the room, looking at the various objects. Isabela bent down to look at the ceremonial things, a small smile on her face. Merrill was sneezing as she reached one of the papers on the desk with a thumb and forefinger diligently.
"You wouldn't know it," Varric said, crouching beside Isabela, lifting some of the objects to examine them. "But Bartrand was a sentimentalist. This came from our estate in Orzammar."
He stood up then, lifting up a highly-decorated plate with colorful lines through it surrounding an ornate crest that read "Tethras".
"When I was seven," Varric continued, looking at the plate, admiringly. "I knocked over one of my Mother's plates and broke it. My brother yelled at me for an hour. 'This was made by the artisans of House Saldras! The clay was from the Aedros Atuna river, which never sees the sun.'"
"There's no way you're talking about the same Bartrand that I met." Hawke said, staring at the plate curiously.
Varric chuckled. "Maker's truth! There were tears in his eyes! I never thought that was possible before." His ace turned hard and he threw the plate back at the pile, a loud crash following. "That stupid plate was the whole city of Orzammar to him."
Varric walked away again, back out the door. Hawke looked at the others, but they shrugged as they followed him. Varric led the others back-tracking through the house. There was another slam and more doors opened while others locked themselves as they walked past. They were then into back into a library they had passed. There were books piled on the floor, but now they were in the air, flying through the air in circles, and neatly placing themselves back on the shelves.
"If Anders was here," Isabela stated looking at the bookshelves nervously. "he would have said 'Andraste's flaming knickers' by now."
"We're almost there." Varric said, leading them to another door that was locked before. Hawke recognized it as the doorway to the foyer. "I can hear it."
Varric walked right through as if hew knew it would be open and pushed it. All of a sudden, a vase came flying for him, forcing him back a few feet into the others.
"Holy shit!" Varric cried out.
"Varric, are you all right?" Hawke said, reaching for his arm. He nodded silently as he walked on.
"Whatever is here, is angry." Fenris muttered in Hawke's ear.
Hawke said nothing as they all continued following Varric to the main room that held a set of stairs. Various objects were already flying around the room, aimlessly. Once awhile, one of them would have to duck as an objet would fall dangerously close to one of their heads.
"Why won't it stop?" Merrill asked quietly, watching the flying objects.
A sudden low growl reached their ears, a menacing, dangerous-sounding, growl that made Hawke automatically reach for her daggers. But she was uneasy. What would penetrate a ghost?
"Oh, dear…" Merrill said, trying to hide herself behind Isabela who also had her hands on her blades.
"I wish Aveline was here." the pirate said softly.
"Varric, is that what you've been hearing?" Hawke asked him, turning to look at him. He was sweating again.
The dwarf shook his head and looked disconcerted. "No."
Hawke could say nothing but continued walking up the stairs. A lone door that once led them to Bartrand was slightly opened. Hawke reached for it and pushed it open slowly.
It was quiet until they head the soft cries of someone. A woman was hiding in a corner and when she looked up to see the others, she ran over to them, her face panic-stricken.
"You're real!" she said, a small amount of relief on her face. "You've got to get out of here before it comes back!"
"Where's the idol?" Varric suddenly demanded.
The woman paused to look at him, confused. "What idol?"
"Don't waste my time with your lies!" Varric yelled, taking a menacing step toward her. "Tell me where it is."
"Varric," Hawke said, staring at him surprised. "take it easy. She's telling up what she can."
"She's hiding something, Hawke!" Varric yelled taking another step toward the woman who was cringing at his yelling; fresh tears falling down her face. "Don't lie to me! I know it's here! You mush have found it!"
"I swear!" she said, crying falling to her knees. "I don't know anything about an idol! Please!"
Varric was walking forward still and Hawke was about to reach for him when there was a sudden thud underneath their feet. They quickly looked at each other and ran outside the balcony. A ghostly visage of something was starting to emerge out of nowhere.
"Maker, no!" cried the woman beside them looking down in horror. "It's starting again!"
She began to run down the stairs, past what now looked like a golem. She had almost made it to the foyer, when the golem struck. With one of his large massive hands, he reached for her, pulling her back into his fist. She struggled to be free, but the golem threw her hard at a wall, and she fell crumpled to the floor not moving. The golem growled into the air and stomped its foot, its head staring blankly at the others above.
"Uh-oh…" Varric said under his breath.
The golem stomped its foot one more time and shades began to emerge from the floor. The others wasted no time, as they made their way down the stairs and toward the golem which seemed to be waiting for them. Hawke ran to her first shade, stabbing at it as quickly as she could before it could make its first move and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Varric had stayed above to shoot everything from above, Bianca already cocked and ready to shoot again. Fenris ran directly for the golem, but it seemed impenetrable against his swings as it stood there, summoning more shades. Isabela was also following Hawke's example, getting rid of the other daemons that were now becoming much more numerous. Merrill was trying her hardest by slowing done the attackers and the golem for everyone's sake, but it was proving difficult; her magic seemed to be failing quickly against the ghost-like apparitions.
The golem growled again and began moving toward its closet victim, which happen to be Hawke. Gasping as the sudden sounds of the vibrating stomps, she turned before the golem could grasp her in his hand. Fenris yelled into the air getting the golem's attention. It turned its blank face to him, and growled again as Fenris successfully cut into its rock skin with his sword. An ethereal piece of it fell off and disappeared into a wisp. At least it can be destroyed, Hawke said feeling slightly relieved. She watched as Fenris jumped, rolled, and skittered out of its way, slashing at the golem whenever he could. Hawke ran forward to help but was stopped again, by more shades. Feeling frustrated, she threw a smoke grenade to the floor and vanished from them, slicing her daggers at them. She could hear tired grunts and curses from Isabela and Merrill, but she had no time to look. She ran forward to the golem who had Fenris pinned against the wall. Fenris had dead concentration on his face as he moved as much as he could, but he was also running out of options. Hawke ran forward again and jumped onto its back, her daggers doing nothing. The golem paused for a moment confused. It reached up trying to get Hawke off his back, but it was unable to lift its arms high enough. It began to move erratically, trying to throw her off and was nearly successful, if Hawke had not wrapped her arm around the golems neck.
However, as she wanted, the golem was not paying attention to anything else around it, and the others were directing all of their fire at the golem, who seemed to be slowly shrinking as more of its pieces began break off of it, thanks to the others. Unfortunetly, this also meant, the golem was capable of more reach as its shoulders were being penetrated and broken. It took hold of Hawke ankle and threw her against a wall. She felt herself flying and landed hard on her back, then falling to the floor, the wind completely knock out of her. She tried to stand, but her breath had not back yet and felt to weak to stand. She felt another thud underneath her, but it was not the same as when the golem stomped. She turned her head wearily and saw the golem was now down to its waste, missing an arm, its legs disappearing beside it. Finally, with a last anguish cry, the golem disappeared dropping something red in its wake.
"Hawke!"
Hawke tried to speak, but she couldn't seem to make a sound.
Fenris reached for her and pulled her to her feet in one swift motion. She had no use of her legs and fell forward, but Fenris caught her, putting her arm around him.
Merrill had a look of complete terror on her face as she stared at Hawke, standing beside where the golem had disappeared. Isabela was breathing heavily as she looked at the red thing that had clattered to the floor. Varric was not paying any attention, as he bent down to pick the object up and examined it, his face looking very similar to Bartrands before he locked them up in the Deep Roads.
"Varric…" Hawke started walking forward, giving Fenris a reassuring pat on his chest. "I don't like that look on your face."
"This…" Varric said, not listening to her. "this is a piece of the idol. I should have know Bartrand would lie to me. Of course he'd keep a piece of the statue for himself."
"Varric-" Hawke tried again."
"Think of what we could do with this!" Varric said, still staring at the idol in his hands, looking positively mad.
"Varric," Hawke began, speaking above him. "you've been acting strangely since we arrived. I don't think you want to keep that shard."
Varric sighed impatiently. "I know you're trying to look out for me, Hawke, but I can handle this! It's not the whole idol, it's just a sliver. I need this thing! Three years of my life have gone into this!"
"Listen to yourself!" Hawke said angrily, gripping his arms. "It's already controlling you! You have to let it go!"
"You're not listening, Hawke!" Varric said pulling away, hysterical. "I can handle this shard!"
"I'm worried, Varric." Hawke said, forcing herself to calm. "You're beginning to sound exactly like Bartrand."
Varric stopped suddenly and looked at her, his mouth slightly opened. He did not say anything for a moment as he stared at the idol again. He closed his again only to open them, the shard held tightly in his fist. "Fine. I don't really want to argue about this anyway."
Varric slowly lifted the idol up slapped it into Hawke's hand, turning away. "Take it. It's your problem now. Maybe 'Enchantment' boy can dispose of the thing for you."
"Thank you, Varric." Hawke said looking at him.
Varric waved a dismissive hand. "Let's go. I…think I could use some air."
Silence followed as the rest of the part followed Varric to the foyer and out the door. Hawke felt a lot warmer outside and was relieved that they were leaving that house behind. She looked up and saw the beginnings of morning expanding in the horizon. Have they truly been there all night? Hawke asked, yawning.
"Thanks, Hawke." Varric said, not looking at her. "Last think I want to do is turn into Bartrand."
"What are you going to do about the house, now?" Hawke asked him stretching, her back cracking. It felt sore.
"I don't know…leave it, burn it," Varric said walking still, "try selling it again. I hate that place."
"Come on, Varric." Isabela said cheerfully, putting an arm around the dwarf's shoulders. "I know of a great drinking song that I can teach you, and we can put the beverages on your tab."
Hawke sighed, annoyed. She was sitting at her desk in the study room late morning, staring at the piles of letters on her desk. She's been neglecting to read through them, only looking for letters from Bethany, who has faithfully been writing to her at least once a week. Now, that she had already read and re-read her sister's post, she turned her attention to the notices, invitations, and complaints. Grudgingly, she reached over picked the first note to read it. She frowned, looking it over. It was yet another from Knight-Commander Meredith requesting her immediate attention. The first one was sent nearly a month ago which she presently ignored throwing it into the fire, still not quite appreciating what she had said before, however the letters were coming in twice a week "courteously requesting the Champion's presence". The note was short and to the point, but besides the summons, there were no other details.
She stood up and stretched shrugging her shoulders. It seems the letter would not stop until she made her way to the Gallows. Heaving a great yawn, she went to her bedroom, changed, and went out the door. Ever since the first day she stepped outside, the congratulatory attitudes among the nobles had diminished, which did not bother her one bit, but it did not stop the stares she still received every time she walked around during the daylight, and the whispers that reached her ears. SHe slowly made her way past the Keep and into the Gallows. She made her way over to the merchants there, exploring the armor and weapons that were on sale. She was procrastinating, and she knew it, but she hardly cared. Meredith can wait, she thought.
After nearly an hour of needless searching, Hawke moved away from the merchants, nodding at the templars that were making their rounds. She could see them eyeing her beadily underneath their helmets, but she ignored this. She made her way up the stone steps into the Templar Hall. More templar were waiting inside, guarding the entrances leading to the Circle, no doubt. She vaguely wondered what Bethany was up to at this moment in time, and was wondering how close she was to her.
"Knight-Commander Meredith wishes to see me." Hawke said to a nearby templar.
The templar nodded. "Of course, Champion. Up these stairs, make a left. First door on your right."
Hawke made her way through the first door and exhaling through her nostrils she rapped her knuckles on the door and opened it, not bothering to wait for an answer.
Meredith was sitting at her desk, writing rather furiously on a piece of parchment. She had piles of books on the corners of her desk, her head could hardly be seen over them. Her massive sword was leaning against the side of a large settee beside her with piles of parchment stacking on top of it. The Knight-Commander lifted her head as Hawke walked in, gazing at her stonily.
"Ah, Chmapion." Meredith standing.
"Knight-Commander." Hawke responded.
"I assume you have received my letters?" Meredith asked, still watching Hawke.
"All 12 of them." Hawke replied with a smile.
Meredith paused then motioned Hawke closer into the room. "Please, close the door.
Hawke did as she stepped in. Meredith had made her way around her desk and leaned against it, folding her arms across her chest.
"I see you seemed to have fully recovered from the battle with the Arishok." the Knight-Commander said. "Good. Very good."
Hawke said nothing, not trusting the woman.
"You are considered the Champion." Meredith continued looking at her carefully. "Does that matter to you?"
"I'd rather you get straight to the point, Knight-Commander." Hawke said, looking at her. If Hawke understood anything about this woman, she was not one to falter in her speech. She was also getting the impression of what Meredith wanted, however.
Meredith narrowed her eyes and inclined her head. "Fine. My point, Champion, is the power that you hold over the people, and it would be in your best interest and the people of Kirkwall that you made a decision that will positively effect us all."
"You mean, it would be in your best interest, Knight-Commander." Hawke replied smoothly.
"My duty lies in protecting the people." Meredith said. "If that means ruling this city, then I shall."
Hawke said nothing.
"If you care about this city at all," Meredith continued, "you will do what is best for all of us."
"I understand what you're saying, Knight-Commander," Hawke said. "and I do not like being used."
"I have not-"
"Meredith," Hawke said loudly over her, "you have requested my audience and I am here. But you will not drag me into the fight that you have with the First-Enchanter. I will not be part of your bitter quarrel because neither of you wish to compromise."
"You are already involved!" Meredith said, her eyes blazing. "You are the Champion, are you not?"
"By your doing!" Hawke said. "You have given me this title, I assume, for your own eventual sense of wanted control."
Meredith said nothing right away, glaring at her. "I stepped in with the safety of the people of Kirkwall in mind."
"And you wish to sway me into advocating for the templars." Hawke told her. "Do you not?"
The Knight-Commander snorted as she continued to glare. "You are correct."
"No." Hawke replied.
"Your sister is in the Circle, is she not?"
Hawke fumed, her hands in fists. "Do you make it a habit of yours to try and make fun of my family members, dead or alive, Knight-Commander?"
"Do not take the remark as a threat, Champion." Meredith said with a small smile. "I am simply saying that her environment could quickly turn chaotic unless there is some control, and at this moment in time, I believe there is none."
"Your desire for control will only be your undoing, madam."
"A threat, Champion?" Meredith said cooly.
"Of course not." Hawke said, turning toward the door. "But I will not be used. Good day, Knight-Commander Meredith."
She closed the door with a snap, feeling Meredith's eyes boring into her. She was walking down the hallway, furious, not noticing someone else emerging from a door.
"Wait, Champion! Hawke."
Hawke stopped and turned to look back. First-Enchanter Orsino was standing beside his door frame, looking at her.
"First-Enchanter." Hawke said slowly with a nod.
Orsino opened his door wider and waved his hand. "Please."
Hawke hesitated. She was already in a bad mood, and she had half a mind to walk back to Meredith and punch her across the face. Perhaps not the wisest action, but it would have made her feel bloody good.
"Please." Orsino said again.
Hawke sighed silently then walked toward Orsino who waited until she went in before closing the door gently behind him. His office was considerably smaller than Meredith's, and seemed much more crowded. There were multiple books placed neatly on his many bookshelves that lined up against his walls. It room though was a lot more comfortable than the cold environment Meredith's very presence seem to favor. Orsino motioned Hawke to sit in a squashy chintz armchair across from his desk. With a warm smile, Orsino sat down behind his desk and reached for a kettle smoking on his desk.
"Tea?" Orsino asked her.
Hawke nodded slowly watching him carefully. She was being shrewd, she was in no mood.
Orsino gave her a courteous nod and handed her a steaming cup. She reached over and took it. She sipped it, and felt an immediate warmth calming her quite immensely.
"I could not help but overhear your conversation with the Knight-Commander." the First-Enchanter poured himself a cup of tea.
Hawke looked at him. "Oh?"
"Don't worry, Hawke." Orsino said, understanding her trepidation. He leaned back in his chair and took a sip, watching her. "I've no intention of asking you for help."
"I find that hard to believe, First-Enchanter." Hawke said.
Orsino chuckled, holding his teacup by his lips. "Believe it. Meredith cannot do anything yet. But I feel I must apologize for making a scene in front of you home those weeks back."
Hawke said nothing as she continued to drink.
"I regret," Orsino said, surveying her over the cup. "I intentionally made a scene in the hopes you would emerge from your house because of the noise…"
Hawke raised her eyebrows. "I see…"
"I apologize." Orsino said again looking very sorry. "My intentions were not pure, and I had resorted to something very childish."
"Forgive me, First-Enchanter," Hawke said stonily, "but I'm not interested in apologies."
Orsino looked at her slightly surprised but nodded again, setting down his cup. "I understand. Perhaps a thank you would be in order?"
"What for?" Hawke asked.
"I never had the chance to thank you for your most timely rescue." Orsino said. "You rescued me and your sister."
"Anything for Bethany." she replied firmly.
Orsino paused before he spoke. "She often speaks of you. Very highly, in fact. I hope you don't mind, but I've taken her under my wing. She's quite the mage."
"Bethany has told me." Hawke said, recalling a few of Bethany's letters. "She feels very close to you, Orsino. I hope she will stay that way."
Orsino nodded with a proud smile then it turned serious. "You have my word, Hawke. Your sister will not come to harm. I promise you that."
The First-Enchanter seemed to be reading Hawke's mind, but as she sat there with an empty tea cup in her hand she felt like he knew exactly what she wanted. Hawke did not forget the promise she made her mother the night after the obsequies, and she had no intention of backing out. She needed someone to take care of her, and who better than the First-Enchanter? She couldn't help but feel relief by his words.
"I would very much like to see my sister, First-Enchanter." Hawke said, setting her cup on his desk. "Would that be possible?"
Orsino sighed. "That would be difficult. The final say would be Meredith…" "I'm not on her favorite's list at the moment." Hawke said, standing.
"It certainly doesn't seem so." Orsino said with a small chuckle, standing himself. "I will see if I could change her mind. You are still the 'Champion' after all."
"Unfortunately." Hawke said, turning to the door.
"Hawke." Orsino suddenly said.
Hawke looked back, her eyebrows raised.
"Whatever you chose," He said his fingers balancing on his desk, "I know you will make the right decision that will be best for us all. Your sister has assured me as much."
Hawke stared at him, thinking of his words. Then with a nod, she said, "Good day, First-Enchanter Orsino."