AN: This is the second of three chapters to be uploaded today (1/25/2014). I eventually want to write a female Hawke/Sebastian story, so I am trying to get into writing some from Sebastian's perspective, but that could take a while for me to get down well. Enjoy.
Watching Katherine retreat from the camp fire, Sebastian reached over and touched the great sword next time. He was ready to wield the sword at a moment's notice. He was not particularly skilled when it came to swords, but he had to believe that his sword work would be adequate enough until he could switch with Tancred for his bow. It was times like these that he was thankful for cross-training with blades, instead of sticking solely with his trusty bow.
Many eyes around the camp fire turned at the sound of footsteps approaching. Sebastian was a bit surprised to see Brayan and two of his guards approaching, but carefully kept his face neutral. Vanard drew their conversation abruptly to an end, looking at his second in command. "What are you doing here, Brayan? I thought you wished to keep watch and not join us common folk in drink." A slight chastising tone could be heard.
Brayan stopped where he was, a look of doubt slightly crossing his face. He gestured towards Sebastian, but spoke to Vanard. "Messere, his Lady Wife said you beckoned me." When Vanard did not answer right away, Brayan elaborated. "She said the contact, Messere Raina, had returned and that you might wish my help in the final negotiations."
Vanard let out a harsh laugh. "Look around, do you see Raina among us? You must be mistaken. Return to your post."
Brayan face colored slightly; well, the unburned side, though it wasn't clear if it was anger or embarrassment. He swallowed hard before finding his voice. "As you will, Messere." With a small nod, he turned to leave.
As Brayan turned, the world turned into chaos. Magic lit up the sky as flames burst around them. Screams could be heard from the burning, unsuspecting men. Sebastian immediately leapt to his feet, intent on ending Vanard forever as a threat, but when he sought him out, the man had vanished. A mixture of fury and shock was clear on Brayan face, as he advanced. Sebastian met him thrust for thrust, evading the forceful attacks. Sebastian darted and dodged as if in a dance, despite his stature.
Suddenly Brayan reeled backwards from the force of an arrow lodging itself in his shoulder. Despite the shock, he did not lose his grip on his sword. He cursed heavily and Sebastian looked in the direction the arrow had come for. Aldis had sent the arrow, but he was already on the move, aiming for another target. Sebastian turned from Brayan since the opportunity to do so had presented itself. He sought out Tancred with his eyes and was relieved to see he was still standing. They approached one another in unison and swiftly traded weapons, before once again descending on the men whom they were fighting. Sebastian looked back towards where Brayan had sunk, but the man lay dead with flames still enveloping him. It would seem Jason had gotten to him. The man was a threat no longer, so Sebastian moved on.
As he downed one man and then another, he moved as silently as a shadow, unseen by his victims. When his eyes saw Katherine, he was relieved. As she whirled in a sword fight with one of Vanard's soldiers, Sebastian again raised his bows, holding his arm steady. The man took the bolt square in the chest and fell to his knees, his sword dropping to the ground. Sebastian advanced some, while still looking for any would be attackers. Katherine did much the same, while surveying the area.
"Is Vanard dead?" she asked.
Sebastian took aim at a man approaching them. "I do not know," he replied, as he released his arrow. Drawing back a second arrow, a moment later the man lay dead.
"When he lays dead, we can catch up with the others," she answered, sounding calm. As she began to duel with another of Vanard's men, Sebastian looked for signs of the man himself. As of now Tomwise's comrades were engaged with various men, but a good number of the enemy must have fled since the battle began.
"Sebastian, there!" Katherine called out, and he followed her gaze. Sure enough, Sebastian could make out Vanard trying to sneak out of the camp. He was crouched some, and not watching them. Sebastian raised his bow and took careful aim. This one must die, he thought briefly, right before releasing the arrow. Vanard staggered with the impact and Sebastian let loose two more shots, each hitting him in the back, near the first arrow.
Katherine had dispatched the man she had been fighting and, together, she and Sebastian approached Vanard. She nudged him with her foot hard enough to turn him over to his back. His rusty red doublet was soaked in dark blood. Looking at his face, Sebastian could see a stream of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. A strange moaning sound came from him, but he seemed incapable of speech. Rather quickly the life in his eyes faded and he was most certainly dead.
Satisfied he was dead, they turned back to where Tomwise's comrades fought the few stragglers remaining of Vanard's men. Katherine called out to them, saying they had done what they needed to. A few of the stragglers ran off and the few remaining soon lay dead. Sebastian followed Katherine closely, while the other four trailed them. Before they left the campsite, they gathered the weapons that belonged to their comrades, placed them in the wagon, and then turned to lead the horses towards Kirkwall, leaving the dead with their camp fire. Sebastian sighed, pleased at least that they were all in one piece.
It seemed mere minutes before they caught up with Hawke and the others. There was a joyful reunion among friends. Merrill had been clasped to Hawke's side, but upon seeing them, she immediately flew to embrace Katherine. After the close hug, she turned and embraced Sebastian, who couldn't help but feel a little awkward, partly because he was unused to the embrace of women and partly because he still couldn't get pass the fact that she was a blood mage. Hawke shook his hand with a word of thanks. Beyond that, Isabela embraced him as well, which still felt awkward to him. It grew even more awkward when the pirate moved her hand from his back to give his buttocks a squeeze. His face flamed as she finally drew away.
Looking around, Sebastian could see that Katherine stood near Fenris, which was of no surprise. There was a look of softness or tenderness in their eyes for one another, but Sebastian knew they would appear no more than comrades by the inattentive observer. The four, Aldis, Jason, Somila and Tancred, that had helped them stood nearby, awaiting the leave to go. Raina stepped closer to her sister and they were exchanging words so quietly that he could not make them out.
Hawke's happy laughter broke the quiet whispering among his companions. "And I took you not for an actor," he said, addressing Katherine. She did not reply, so Hawke continued. "That was quite good and, had I not been repeatedly beat, as well as bound and gagged, I would have found the whole thing quite enjoyable."
"You did good," Varric said, giving Katherine a friendly clap on the shoulder. Then he turned his eyes on Sebastian. "You, not so much. Not quite the actor, eh, choir boy?" Sebastian felt his face grow warm. "I did . . . the best I could," he said a bit sheepishly.
Isabela laughed and linked her arm around his shoulders. "Don't worry about them, darling. You did fine. You can act for me any time you wish." His face positively flamed now, and he struggled uneasily out of her hold.
"You are so cute when you blush," she called out after him.
Raina cleared her throat, drawing their attention. "I informed Hawke that his mother and his dog are fine. Now, if all is settled here, we will be on our way."
"You did well," Katherine answered. "Thank you."
Raina nodded. She then turned to the wagon. Sebastian watched in surprise as Raina's comrades went about unharnessing the horses from the wagon. Hawke stepped forward. "Hey, here, what's going on now?" They just seemed to ignore him, as if he hadn't spoken. They all took a horse, with Raina riding double in front of her sister. Before Raina could talk, Hawke again tried to intercede. "Why are you taking our horses?"
Raina finally answered him. "You are fully capable of carrying your weapons and making your way back to Kirkwall. Besides, there are nearly a dozen of you. You are capable of protecting yourself with that number, yes? You can find your way back to Kirkwall, yes?" Her voice sounded impatient, even a little rude.
Hawke's eyes narrowed, but he did not reply. Katherine answered her. "We can find our way. I appreciated the help."
Raina nodded. "Well worth the coin, huh?" she asked, but didn't wait for a reply. She and her comrades rode off before further words could be spoken.
"Well, she seems pleasant," Hawke said, almost deadpan.
"She did just help save you," Katherine replied.
"Yes, she helped us out of a bind, Hawke," Isabela said. "Were we worth a lot of money then, kitten?"
"More than I would have liked to have spent," Katherine replied. "Well worth it, though." Sebastian was a bit surprised that neither Isabela nor Hawke mentioned Fenris' hand resting slightly on Katherine's arm. They seemed the sort to make a joke of such.
"We might as well get a move on," Aveline broke in to the conversation. "'When the cat's away, the mice will play' and all that. I am eager to get back to my post."
"I am sure Kirkwall didn't burn down in our absence," Bethany added. Sebastian couldn't help but think that she was lucky Hawke was so intent on Merrill, otherwise he may have noticed how close Anders stood next to her. At times, it almost seemed they were holding hands. He had not wanted to interfere before, but perhaps he should tell Hawke that he was reasonably certain there was more than friendship between the two. Surely Hawke would not like it any more than he, even if he and Anders shared a friendship.
"Missing Hawke?" Varric asked. "It may have. Haven't you read the stories about Hawke, penned quite honestly by myself?" Varric paused a moment, before side-eyeing Katherine briefly. "Very great stories, I might add. Only very slightly embellished."
"Are you still sore about that?" Katherine asked, though she didn't sound truly offended. "I was in character."
Varric smiled. "Maybe my work contains a bit more embellishment than is required, I'll admit. But what is a story without a bit of storytelling? All the same, I am grateful to not be tied up like a pig."
"I can tie you up, if you like," Isabela quipped, to which Sebastian was not entirely surprised.
"Well, if that's all . . ." Hawke let his voice trail off, seeming ready to get the long walk to Kirkwall underway.
Merrill, who was clasped to his side, began to talk to him. "I am ready, ma sa'lath (Translation: my only love). Ready to put this night of darkness behind us." Her serious tone then changed to a carefree one. "Maybe we can pick flowers on the way. No doubt, the ones I picked before my capture are wilted. Maybe we can find some pretty blue bonnets. Ooh, or Andraste's grace." She broke her hold on Hawke, turning towards Sebastian. "You would like that, too, wouldn't you? Think of all the flowers we could bring back to Kirkwall if we can find a field full. I hope we find at least some on the way back."
Sebastian just nodded, unsure of what else to say.
"Let's be on our way," Hawke said. His companions all moved to gather their weapons from the wagon. Hopefully, they would reach Kirkwall before it got too hot in the middle of the day.