Chapter 26: Brother and Sister
Tense.
That was the one word that Justin Oslin could use to describe the situation in the warden camp now…tense.
It was not just the threat that they were under, that was part of it of course, but not all.
There was too much history here, too many old scores, and bad blood.
Bethany and Sebastian were part of it. He should have suspected that the prince might still be carrying a torch for his wife. Justin should have realized that, he had carried his own torch for about ten years.
Sebastian seemed to be an alright sort he supposed. Hopefully, he would be able to work through what was going on and focus on saving his people. A true ruler had to be able to do that.
Hopefully he was that kind of man, the kind that would not let the past get in the way.
The warden's brow furrowed.
He would be lying if he said seeing Sebastian kiss Bethany had not bothered him. Part of him still wanted to tear Sebastian apart, and not just for that either, he wanted to make the man pay for leaving her alone in Ferelden in the first place. True that had led to he and Betts finally getting together, but the risk to her still ate at him.
But the prince was only part of their problem…
There was Birdie now as well.
Justin shook his head, if he had known that Birdie would pop up again, he would never have allowed Isabela to accompany them. Now…there was some bad blood, Isabela had shattered his friend's heart. What Birdie became later was partly her fault.
He would need to tread lightly to keep things from going off kilter. Even with his old friend collared like he was, he was still dangerous; magic was not Andreas Wren's only weapon.
Justin looked up into the sky, it would be dawn soon, and the first gray light of morning had taken to the sky. The clouds in the distance were a sea of orange and red.
The warden commander sighed; he sat by the fire, awaiting the coming day.
A snuffling sound drew his attention; he looked up into the eyes of a caramel colored female mabari.
Betts's war hound…Milady.
Justin smiled at her.
"I think your mistress married an idiot," he informed her.
The dog tilted her head and whimpered. She lay down beside him, putting her head into his lap, staring up at him with those sappy brown eyes of hers.
Justin chuckled, Milady may have bonded to Bethany, but she took to him all right. Some mabari, he had heard of got jealous when their owners took lovers.
He was grateful that Milady was not one of those.
The camp was beginning to come back to life. Simon stood watch with Mateo. He did not see Bevin, whose turn it had been, but that did not surprise him. He had spotted Constance slipping a few coins to Mateo, likely paying him to take Bevin's shift. They were a bit of an odd-couple, the assassin and the Arlessa's brother, but it was clear that they cared for each other.
Justin glanced across from him, noticing a familiar figure asleep in her bedroll.
He smiled to himself.
Speaking of odd couples.
Serene lay by the fire. Her head rested on Bradley's chest. The seeker must have come to her in the night. He was still fully dressed, and sleeping outside of her bedroll, but it was clear that the old affection that had existed between the seeker and elf was beginning to blossom again.
Justin was not sure what to think of that.
Bradley…his death in the Haven temple had nearly broken the elf. Despite her training, and her skills with manipulation, the bard had fallen head over heels in love with the lad.
Justin remembered those days clearly, that empty look in her ruby eyes, the way she had trudged along in silence. Birdie had warned him at the time that she had even tried to kill herself, so heavy was her grief stricken heart.
He…he did not want to see his friend and fellow warden go through that again!
The sad fact was that Justin had come to like Ser Bradley; the young Templar had been a good soldier and a friend. He had sacrificed himself to save them without a single hint of resistance. He knew he could trust Bradley back then, the boy was a known asset.
He did not know who this Seeker was.
He was still Bradley sure, but he had had almost two years of training at the Divine's side, and without his memories of Kirkwall to guide him, was he really the same young man?
Justin could not answer that question to his satisfaction.
Maybe you should just leave it alone Oslin, his conscience chided, Serene is a big girl, she can take care of herself.
He recognized that, but…she was still his friend too, he…he did not want to see her hurt…again.
"Justin Oslin…I'm shocked!"
He jumped at the sound of the voice; Marian Hawke stood their grinning at him.
"Does Bethany know about you and her dog?" the elder Hawke asked dryly, "Normally a mabari would never cheat on one she had bonded with, but you two…you look so cozy."
Milady gave him a look, as if she was asking him if she was betraying her mistress.
Justin chuckled.
"Don't confuse the poor pup, Mari," he chided, "There is nothing wrong with her feeling affectionate towards her owner's husband."
The dog lay back down; Justin began to scratch her ears. The dog panted happily.
Hawke sat down next to them. Justin regarded his old…well…he was not sure what Marian Hawke was truthfully. Sparring partner, daughter of his teacher, old pain in his ass, she had been all those things and more.
She had changed a lot in the last twelve years. Her hair had started to go gray; the burn scar on her face stood out starkly on her pale skin, but what was most telling…was her blue eyes.
Marian Hawke had old eyes. The things she had faced in Kirkwall had aged her. He had heard the tales of course, both in taverns and from Varric himself.
Marian Hawke, Hawke the invincible, the indomitable Champion of Kirkwall, she had fought Templars, Qunari, and blood mages…
And had nearly been broken in the process.
The tales did not mention that part. What Hawke had suffered what she had lost?
Bethany had told him some things. Merrill had told him a few more.
He found that he pitied Malcolm Hawke's eldest daughter.
Kirkwall had been her forge; she had come out stronger, but had lost much in the flames.
He realized he was staring.
He looked away.
Hawke chuckled, for a moment he sounded like the Mari he had known back in Lothering.
It was nice to know that some of the old Mari remained.
"So," she said dryly, "You're a commander?"
"So," he responded, "You're a champion?"
She gave him a wry look.
"I never really liked that title," she confessed, "I never felt comfortable wearing it, that or fancy dresses. I think I might be allergic to silk. Makes it hard to buy small clothes."
Justin smirked, and this was where Mari hid behind humor.
She did that sometimes.
"Can I do something for you Mari," he asked, "I don't think you are up this early just to discuss your…opinions on silk."
Hawke frowned, she…she…this was not easy for her.
"I…I wanted to thank you."
"For?"
"For keeping Bethany safe," she said.
He shrugged.
"No need, I would never had let anyone harm her."
"I'm grateful for that," Hawke said, "After Kirkwall…I…I was in no shape to help anyone…I wasn't for a very long time. I was lost, crazed would likely be a good word as well."
"Well, you were always a little nutty," he reminded her.
She glared at him.
"I'm trying to be honest here, you dope."
"I can see that Mari," he responded, "But considering all the shit you gave me when we were kids, you can't blame me for a little retaliation after all that time."
"True," she replied.
They sat there for a minute, just staring into the fire; it was…what many might call a comfortable silence. Two old acquaintances sitting together.
It was nice.
IOI
"So," he said breaking it, "You and Betts' friend Wolf, huh?"
A warm smile came to Hawke's lips.
"It took longer than it should have," she admitted, "I…was enchanted by another, and did not see how Fenris felt about me, perhaps…perhaps I could have saved myself a lot of pain if I had not been so blind all those years, if I had listened to my sister. Beth tried to warn me about…"
She paused, she shuddered painfully.
She could not speak his name, even today.
"When…when I heard that you had become a warden, that you had married my sister. I was afraid," she confessed, "I…I was afraid that you would forget why you married my sister that your mission would come and take up everything else in your heart. I…I was afraid that you would hurt her, hurt her in ways that no magic could heal. I knew someone…"
"I'm not him," Justin responded flatly.
The two did not say the name, the wardens knew it, in fact everyone in Thedas likely knew it now, a name that had become synonymous with the mage rebellion.
Which was funny considering the entire circle of Kirkwall was exterminated because of his actions.
Hawke frowned.
Anders would have considered those deaths justified, sacrifices made to ensure the future he had envisioned.
A future in flames.
Hawke doubted near the end if the mages even mattered to her old lover. Only hurting Meredith had mattered to him by that point. She found herself remembering a conversation that they had had in his clinic.
"It has all gone wrong Mari," Anders had sobbed, "Justice and I, we were supposed to help mages, but…but…
We have become a monster!
She had tried to convince him otherwise back then, that he needed to do better, become the symbol that the mages needed to rally behind.
He had said at the time that he had not known how, apparently he found a way, a way that his name would live forever.
He decided to embrace the monster.
He decided to become a martyr.
He decided to leave her…alone.
"Don't forget my sister Justin," Marian warned him, "It…it is too easy to forget those you love in the face of doing…what you think you need to do. I would see Bethany spared that fate."
The pain in her voice shocked him; he had never heard her speak like this before.
She bowed her head.
"I'm…I'm begging you Justin," she said mournfully, "Don't let my sister end up like me."
He understood what she was saying, but did she honestly think that he would…that he would become like that bastard…
It wasn't that hard to believe.
He gave her a stern look.
"I…would never hurt Betts, Mari," he said coldly, "You have it wrong, my mission is important, but that is to make this world a better place, but Bethany is not just some part of that world. She…she is my world. I took vows that I would guard, protect, and love her for the rest of my days. Everything I do is to make the world safer for her. I would sooner cut off my own head than harm her. I swear to both you and the Maker. I…I will never break her heart!"
IOI
The words made Hawke's eyes widen.
I told you I would break your heart.
Anders had never had the strength to say that to her.
She hated to admit it, but…for a moment…she was jealous of her sister.
She had found Fenris, and she was happy, but Bethany had chosen wisely the first time.
She was envious of that.
"Thank you, Justin," she said, "Just…thank you for being there for her."
"No problem," he replied, if anything, I should be thanking her. She is the one truly good thing in my life. I'm proud to protect her."
Hawke nodded, she was glad to hear that.
"And besides," he chuckled, "It is not like I have not profited from our union. I not only gained a loving wife, but apparently a sister as well. How about it sis? How about a hug for your brother, Justin?"
She laughed and slugged him lightly in the shoulder.
"Ow," he said feigning injury, just like he had done in the old days.
Smirking she went back to her tent, they needed to be ready to move soon.
She stopped, giving him a sly smile, just as she had done when they were children.
"Welcome to the family," she said.
Justin could not help it, he…at had been a long time since anyone had said anything like that to him.
He had more than Betts now.
He had a family; he was part of a family.
He could not help but smile.
He…he liked that.