"So Hawke," Aveline started, "have you decided if you're going or not?"
Hawke nodded and took another sip of her liquor before getting up to go home, Fenris going after her. They walked hand-in-hand, a comfortable silence stretched between them. The night was cold and the fact that Hawke was practically naked didn't help. She shivered when a particularly strong gust of cold wind blew against her.
"You should really consider putting on more clothing," Fenris said as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Why should I when I have you to keep me warm?" Hawke asked innocently. Fenris chuckled. He kept his hold on her waist all the way back to the mansion and to the bed they now shared. They removed the spiky parts of their armor and slipped under the covers. Fenris wrapped his arms around Hawke again and buried his head in her hair.
"Good night Mei-Mei," Fenris breathed.
"Good night Fenris," Rymei whispered as she fell asleep in his comfortable embrace.
Chapter 14: Expedition Begin
One week later…
Today was the day Hawke, Bethany, Anders and Varric were expected to leave for the Deep Roads. Everyone gathered in Hightown to say farewell to their friends. Fenris went up to Hawke and handed her something.
"What's this?" Hawke asked, looking down at the bundle of fabric he pushed into her hands.
"Unfold it and see," Fenris said. He watched as she unfolded it and her eyes lit up. It was a long black trench coat that split at the bottom.
"Oh Fenris, I love it." She held it to her chest as if it was the most precious thing in the world. To her, it was and it smelled like Fenris. Hawke hugged him like he was a lifeline before letting him breathe. "Thank you so much."
"No problem. From what I've heard, it gets cold down there. Unfortunately I won't be there to keep you warm so this is the next best thing." Hawke giggled and kissed him on the cheek. Now they were in their own little world so they didn't notice Varric writing in a notebook he always kept with him, Isabella, Merril and Bethany giggling and Anders looking away in disgust. The moment was broken up when Bartrand announced the arrival of an old woman.
"Where's my daughter?" Leandra demanded. She pushed past men and dwarves until she was the center of the groups. "Oh Bethany, thank the Maker you haven't left. Please don't go on such a dangerous journey. I already lost Carver and I don't want to lose you too."
"You had two daughters, me and Rymei, remember?" Bethany asked her mother. It was like Leandra had just forgotten Hawke's existence. She never told her mother that Hawke was alive and well and Aveline promised to keep her mouth shut until Leandra saw her herself. Now Hawke was standing right and front of her but Leandra didn't recognize her own daughter.
"She's gone so, what's the point to wait for someone who'll never come back?" Bethany grabbed Hawke by the arm and held her still in front of Leandra. "And who's this?" She looked shocked when Leandra said that. She really didn't remember who Hawke was. "Anyways, Hawke was always a troublemaker, a demon if you ask me. All she cared about was you and Carver, never spared a moment for me or her father. I hoped she wouldn't find us when we left for Lothering but she caught up because Malcolm left a note. Girl, what's your name?"
"Rymei Hawke," Rymei said. Leandra's eyes widened and found she couldn't speak. She had said those things in front of her own daughter and didn't even know it. Hawke then shrugged off Bethany's grasp only to find a woman she didn't know reaching to grab her. "I wouldn't advise that woman. Touch me and I'll hurt you
"How can you speak to your mother that way?"
"My memory is lost. I only remembered faintly remember Bethy and Carver. But what kind of mother would call their daughter a demon in the first place? You wished you left her alone, not knowing where her family could be? It's disappointing to know people can be cruel to their own children." Hawke walked away leaving Leandra in tears. What surprised the poor woman was that Bethany hadn't tried to comfort her like she usually would.
"I'm going mother. My sister will protect me from whatever we encounter."
Leandra just walked away to Gamlen's to cry more. Not only did she lose her husband and son but she just lost her two daughters because she pushed them away. She felt terrible saying such things about her oldest right in front of her face. She just looked do different than she remembered. What kind of mother calls her daughter a demon, denies her existence and doesn't even recognize her?
"Are you okay Bethany? What was that all about?" Aveline asked.
"Mother, she called Hawke a demon and confessed to hoping she didn't find us in Lothering when we moved. I don't need to be around her at the moment," Bethany confessed. Aveline didn't say anything, just offered any comfort when she needed it.
Bartrand called everyone together and announce the route they would take to the Deep Roads. Hawke put on the coat Fenris gave her and buttoned it so it covered her stomach. It was so warm and she felt so safe in it. Hawke, Bethany, Anders and Varric followed Bartrand out of Hightown and out of Kirkwall.
The expedition to the Deep Roads has begun.