They kissed under the streetlight like characters in some Blessed Age film, his hand cupping her cheek and her fingers curled into the front of his coat. Marian might have laughed at the scene if she'd been able to think clearly. Instead, she grinned like a fool the rest of the walk home and blurted an overeager invitation to meet for coffee the next morning, to which Nate just chuckled and said, "Of course."
She texted Isabela, feeling only mildly embarrassed about acting like a teenager, and fell asleep still grinning. But she woke feeling uneasy, a dream of smoke and ash lingering with her, and spent five minutes in bed, staring at the ceiling and wondering if she was allowed to feel happy, all things considered.
With a groan, she rolled over and checked her phone. Isabela had texted back in the middle of the night.
I: I want details.
I: I'm serious, Hawke. If you don't call me tomorrow, I'll never forgive you.
I: And don't you dare start feeling guilty for having a bit of happiness.
"You know me too well, Is," Marian sighed, shaking her head and texting back a promise to call. By the time she was showered and dressed and stepping out into the cold morning air, Isabela's words had sunk in.
"Good morning, Tobias." Marian unbuttoned her jacket as she approached the counter and her frowning boss. "It's freezing out there, isn't it?"
"You ain't workin' today."
"I know," she grinned. "I'm meeting a friend. Can I get two lattes?"
Tobias grunted, accepted her cash without a word, and didn't move from his spot behind the register. Marian arched an eyebrow.
"Lattes?" She prompted.
"You know how to make 'em," he grumbled, jerking his chin in the direction of the espresso machine.
Marian chuckled to herself and made her way behind the counter, hanging her jacket on the hook in the kitchen before pulling down two mugs and a to-go cup.
She was aware that Tobias had turned around and was watching her with his arms folded across his chest. But she just flashed him a grin and ignored his scrutiny as she focused on the drinks in front of her.
"Just how many you makin,' girl? You only paid for two."
Marian rolled her eyes, snapping a lid on the lone to-go cup and holding it out to Tobias.
"This one's for the Guard Captain, not me."
"The Guard Captain?"
"She comes in everyday at nine. Triple shot, skim milk." When Tobias made no sign of knowing who Marian was talking about, she added, "Tall, ginger, frightening scowl?"
Tobias shook his head and pulled the to-go cup from her hand. "Yer wastin' yer Gift, girl."
If Marian hadn't heard those exact words before, she probably would have just rolled her eyes at Tobias and walked away with her two drinks.
But she had heard them. And hearing them again made her pause, frowning down at the two lattes in front of her.
She at least knew what Lyna meant when she'd said it, but Marian couldn't figure why Tobias would say something like that. It wasn't like running this tiny café was using his Gift for some noble purpose. Not that she even knew exactly what Tobias's Gift was—but she assumed it had something to do with how he always seemed to know everything. Of course, the comment could also just be Tobias being Tobias. Sometimes she wondered if he was grump just for the sake of being grumpy.
She sighed and glanced up just as the bell on the door jingled and Nate walked in, hair hidden under a blue knit hat and cheeks pink from the cold air outside.
And when he smiled at her, she couldn't help but smile back, Tobias's words all but forgotten.
"Have a seat by the creepy guy," she said. "I'll be there in a sec."
Nate raised his eyebrow in question, and Marian pointed to the large tapestry on the wall.
As Marian settled into the chair across from Nate and slid his latte to him, she explained, "The creepy guy's name is actually Dirthamen. And he's not really creepy, but the ravens he has are."
"Dirthamen," Nate echoed, looking up at the tapestry. "He's the Dalish god of…knowledge and secrets, right?"
Marian nodded, noting the Guard Captain's arrival—right on time—from the corner of her eye.
"He's associated with loyalty and family, too," she said. "He's also Falon'Din's twin brother. The ravens are Fear and Deceit. Dirthamen outsmarted them in order to stay by Falon'Din's side. That's where the loyalty and family bit comes from."
"That's right," Nate said. "I remember the story now. There was a sick deer that Falon'Din took through the Veil, and the ravens tried to stop Dirthamen from following." Nate paused, turning back to Marian, and smiled. "I didn't know you were interested in Dalish folklore."
"I'm not really," Marian shrugged. "I've just been looking at this guy every day, so I asked about him. My new neighbor, the one who knew Lyna back in Ferelden? She studies Dalish folklore at the university."
"Oh, that's right—wait. Sorry." Nate frowned and pulled his phone from his pocket. As he set the phone on the table and slowly typed out a message one-handed, Marian briefly considered offering to help before realizing that would just sound silly. She also didn't want to get caught staring, either at his one-handed typing or the way he'd pressed his lips together in concentration. So took a sip of her latte and looked up at the tapestry instead.
Marian had asked Tobias once, who was not Dalish and didn't seem particularly interested in folklore, why he had the tapestry in the café, but he'd refused to give her a straight answer. Instead, he'd said something about Dirthamen being family and then just frowned at her when she'd tried to ask more.
"Sorry about that," Nate said, drawing her attention back. "Carver's been harassing me all morning about my paperwork."
"Oh." Marian blinked, the mention of her brother reminding her of a thought she'd had the night before. "You know, we probably should tell him about…" She trailed off, unsure of how to finish that sentence without making things awkward. "Us" sounded a little presumptuous, but "this" felt too ambiguous.
She'd considered texting Carver when she'd texted Isabela. She knew he'd want to know, especially since he'd asked about her and Nate before, but she hadn't been able to figure out what to say. She wasn't about to tell her baby brother that she'd kissed his roommate, but Your roommate is interested in me after all didn't sound like it was worth an announcement at all. But that was really all that "this" was—mutual interest and plans to have coffee. And while that alone was exciting to her, she figured it wasn't worth a late-night text to her brother.
"He already knows."
Marian's thoughts stuttered to a stop.
"He knows?"
"Your brother is really protective of you, you know," Nate said, his attention fixed on the mug in his hands. "I was in the hospital for a long time in Orlais, and I…am a terrible patient. Delilah says I revert to a five year old whenever I get sick. I may have been a little…grumpy about being there…and not getting to talk to you. And Carver may have…bullied information out of me…by withholding my pudding."
All Marian could do was stare at Nate as he cleared his throat and looked back up at her, his expression serious despite that last little detail.
"So, yes," he said firmly. "Your brother knows. He knew that I was planning on talking to you. And he told me he would kill me in my sleep if I ever made you cry."
"So…you're putting your life on the line here." Marian raised one eyebrow. "Must have been good pudding."
"It was."
"I see." Marian nodded, biting back a grin.
Nate's solemn expression cracked first, and he chuckled, triggering her own laughter. She was shaking her head and getting ready to ask about the flavor of pudding when the door jingled. On instinct, she glanced to see who it was and waved when she saw it was Merrill. Merrill immediately waved back and bounced over to their table.
"Hello, neighbor! What a surprise to see you here. I suppose I should have known you'd be part of the Guild, too. It's exciting, isn't it?" Merrill turned a bright smile to Nate. "And you must be Nate. I'm so glad you're back safe. Annie was very worried about you, you know."
Marian gaped at Merrill's rapid-fire greeting, unsure of which part to address first, when Merrill's eyes widened.
"Did I say something wrong? Oh, no. I'm always saying things wrong."
"No, Merrill," Marian said quickly, smiling. "You're fine. And yes, this Nate. Nate, this is Merrill. She lives in my building, the one I told you about."
"It's nice to meet you, Merrill."
"Oh," Merrill sighed. "You have a lovely smile. Doesn't he have a lovely smile, Annie?"
"He does," Marian agreed, unable to keep from smiling herself as she said it. And unable to look at Nate right then. "I don't think I've seen you at the café before."
"I'm just delivering a message to Tobias." Merrill patted the bag slung over her shoulder. "I actually should get going. I have a few more to deliver."
Marian frowned as Merrill headed for the counter.
"That's strange. I didn't know Merrill was a messenger. I thought she was a nanny."
"She could have two jobs."
"Smartass." Marian replied, rolling her eyes. "But, other than at the apartments, I've never seen her without that little boy. They go to the park every day. They were even there that day you took me."
Nate raised his eyebrows. "You remember that?" Then he shook his head. "Of course you do. I forget sometimes how strong your Gift really is."
Marian glanced towards the Tobias, who was standing at the counter reading whatever letter Merrill had dropped off, as his words came back to her. Yer wastin' yer Gift, girl.
"Nate, do you think…" She shook her head. "Nevermind."
"What is it?"
"No. It's nothing." She smiled quickly, taking a sip of her latte.
"Marian." He arched an eyebrow, and she knew that he was asking her to say whatever she'd been about to say. She sighed and set the mug back down.
"Hawke."
Marian's head snapped up just as Tobias tossed her jacket at her.
"Get out of here. Backdoor. Now." Tobias turned to Nate next. "You're the boyfriend, right? Warden Howe? Keep her out of sight."
"Boyfr—How did—Tobias? What's—"
"Now," Tobias growled. "Answers later. Get somewhere safe."
Marian opened her mouth, a dozen different questions caught in her throat, but Nate was already on his feet, hastily tugging his coat over his sling.
"Let's go, Marian."
Tobias had herded them both out the back door before she even had her jacket buttoned all the way. As soon as she was done, Nate grabbed her hand and picked up the pace.
"What in the Maker's name is going on?"
"I have no idea," Nate said. "But it's probably best not to wait around and find out." He guided her around a corner. "Your place is closest, but we should stick to side streets. I'll make some calls as soon as we get there."
They weren't quite jogging, but they were definitely walking faster than she normally would. And all she could think of as they hurried towards her apartment was the message Merrill delivered. But there had to be something else.
"I need a bloody hat," she muttered as an icy gust of wind bit at her ears.
"Noted," Nate said with half a chuckle. "We can work on that after we figure this out."
"Right," she sighed as the crossed the street in front of her apartment.
She must have missed something. And that was a feeling she wasn't used to.
Nate dropped Marian's hand to open the door for her. And she stepped into the warm lobby, her hand half-raised to greet Bodhan. But the doorman's frown and furrowed brow made her hesitate.
"I'm so sorry, Messere," he said quickly, holding both hands up. "I tried to send her away."
And that's when Marian noticed the woman standing in the lobby. She had short cropped hair, a square jaw, and Marian knew she had seen her at least once before. And Marian almost smiled at her, almost offered a polite greeting, but she stopped, freezing in place when her eyes settled on the small, gold sun pinned to the woman's lapel.
A/N: For the record, Dirthamen's story came from the Dragon Age Wiki and codex. That tapestry was referenced in passing in chapter 16. And Merrill appears at the park in chapter 10. In case anyone's looking. :)