Chapter 36: Low Tide
Walking into the Hanged Man feels different today. Maybe it's seeing the normally gregarious Varric silent for a change. We don't really talk, but I give him a wave of acknowledgment. The drinks still flow, of course. People will drink to forget just as easily as in celebration. Otherwise, it's pretty boring. Usual guy by the door gets his usual ale. Have the usual conversations with Corff to pass the time in between the usual customers. The work seems to blend together each day I'm here lately. Maybe I just need more evening shifts; things are more exciting then, at least.
Anders stops by the bar in the afternoon, not long before I'm due to be off work. That's unusual. He normally only comes in if he's with Hawke. I give him a questioning look. "This is an unexpected surprise," I say.
"I wanted to pick you up from work," he replies, "and I was hungry." Since when does he pick me up at work?
"Have a seat, I'll get you something," I tell him, and head to the back. The stew isn't bad today, so I ladle out a bowl of it and bring it to the table where he is now sitting.
"I still have to work a bit longer, but there's honestly not much going on around here. Quiet day. I'll be back," I explain. After I finish my shift, I sit down to eat a meal of my own with him.
"I'm surprised you're still working here, truthfully," Anders says. "I mean, wasn't this job just a way to watch Hawke?"
"Yeah. I've been thinking about it a lot lately," I say. "When I came here, I couldn't see past getting payback for my mother's death. I didn't really think about what came after. I'm not sure what else I would really be good at. Traveling minstrel maybe?"
"How about sailor?" asks Isabela, having walked up behind us. I glance up to see that she and Fenris came in together. I realize I haven't seen Fenris in days. I smile at him. His own smile is forced, and his eyes dart away. I guess he's heard about me being back with Anders, then.
"Well, I guess that will take me getting a ship again first," Isabela continues. "My last ship was called the Siren's Call. It would have been fitting to have someone like you aboard. Seriously, puss, you have a voice like sin. Makes me think things..."
"Well, stop thinking them," says Anders.
"Touchy are we? Interesting," says Isabela, her mind working.
"Oh, I don't know, Anders. You got to sleep with her, why can't I?" I ask. Fenris laughs. I look at him, and again he looks away. Ok, this is awkward.
"How did you know about..." Anders starts, then looks at Isabela. "Never mind, I can guess. But no, love, no one gets to hear the adorable noises you make but me." I blush at that disclosure.
"See, you shouldn't have said that. That makes me want to do it even more now," Isabela teases, wicked delight shining in her eyes. "What do you say, puss? Boys are boring. Let's you and I have a little private time, girl to girl."
"That is not happening," says Anders. His tone is dismissively neutral; I can tell he's not really angry. He is kind of cute when he's jealous, though.
"I'd let you watch," Isabela adds, egging him on.
"I'll give it some thought," I say, deliberately pausing. "The job offer, that is." We all have a chuckle at that. It feels good to laugh.
"I've really missed you guys," I comment, smiling. "Oh, I know it's not great timing, but it's good you're both here. I have something to tell you that I think you're going to like."
"What is it?" asks Fenris.
"My network gave me a lead on Talon. He's got some kind of meeting on the Wounded Coast a couple of days from now."
"I really could kiss you!" exclaims Isabela. "But I don't want to wake up jealous Mr. Grumpy over there and make him go all glowy, so I'll at least wait until he's not looking." She winks at me.
"Are you sure it's a good idea to go after this guy?" Anders asks. "From what you told me, he holds a strange power over his followers." Again with trying to protect me? It was sweet at first, but now I'm starting to feel a bit smothered.
"If he's that big of a threat, then we need to find out how he's doing these things and shut him down," I answer, trying to reason with him. "I doubt he'll even be there himself; it's probably just some of his men meeting up."
"I still don't like the idea of you going out there."
"Anders, I've been trained to kill practically since I could walk. I can handle this. Besides, I'll have two of the best fighters I know with me," I say, and gesture toward Isabela and Fenris.
"Better make that three, sweetheart," Anders declares. "I may not be able to stop you, but I'm not letting you go without me."
I sigh. This is getting old fast. I'll try to talk to him again later when we're alone. No sense fighting in front of the others. Isabela is smirking at me, and I'm a little annoyed that she's enjoying this.
We make plans to meet up the morning of and get there early. With any luck, we'll be able to get a good vantage point to watch the meeting and hopefully set up traps or an ambush.
We leave the Hanged Man after dinner. Cat pops into view once we're back home. She grins. "This is going to be fun," she says. "We haven't been on a real adventure in a while."
"I agree - I think I need this."
Anders gives me a concerned look, and I can't hold it back anymore.
"Enough," I say, frustration evident in my tone. "You need to stop doing that. I know the thing with Leandra scared you, and I love that you want to protect me, but it's too much. I've been taking care of myself my whole life; I don't need a babysitter."
He frowns. "So that's how it is then? I'm supposed to rely on you, but when I offer help, it's rejected."
"I'll have Cat's help, and the others'. I won't be alone," I explain. "But I can't worry about them, and worry about you taking trying to a hit for me too."
"I'm sorry, I'm terrible at this," he confesses, face sullen. "I've never had anyone that I loved before. It was too much of a risk in the Circle. I can't lose you. I fear it would break me. No, I'm going, and that's final."
Turns out it wasn't quite final, after all. Anders and I are stiff around each other for the next few days, barely speaking to one another. The night before it is time to go, Hawke sends word. She's been summoned again to go meet with the viscount and asks Anders to go with her. He makes me swear to take Cat, and promise to be careful before he'll leave to go meet Hawke.
When I get to the arranged meeting spot outside town, I am happy to see that Varric has filled in as our fourth. I said I wanted to take fewer rogues in my party, but I'm relieved that both he and Isabela are here. I'll just let Varric handle the traps this time. I twist the gold ring on my finger. That reminds me. I walk beside Varric for a few paces.
"Hey Varric," I start, "how do dwarves thank the Ancestors?"
"I don't know, they just do," he says. He sees my frustration and continues, "Sorry, I'm an Andrastian and I've been a surface dwarf my whole life. I guess they send a sort of prayer to the Stone, and thank the Ancestors for strengthening it or something. Why do you ask?" he wonders.
"Just curious."
Isabela joins the conversation, "So, your bodyguard actually let you out of the house alone today?"
I sigh. "Don't start, Isabela. I was just starting to enjoy this trip."
"Now that he's not here, you mean?" she asks pointedly. "You know, puss, if he's not good to you, you can always end it."
"It's not that, really," I protest. "I can tell he cares, he's just being overprotective ever since the night Hawke's mother died. He said something once about trying to protect someone before and it not ending well. I think being with me reminds him of it, but I can't get anything done with him hovering like that."
"So how did you manage to convince him to stay behind?" Varric asks. "Sounds to me like he was going to be stubborn ass about it."
"Hawke needed him today," I explain. "I guess it is good to get a little break. He can be intense at times."
"Normally, I'd say intense is a good thing," says Isabela, "but you've been far too serious lately. It's good to see you smile again. Make sure this is making you happy, puss, that's all I'm saying."
I do smile at that. Isabela being concerned reminds me that I'm not alone anymore. I have several people who care about me now. "Alright, let's go kick some pirate ass, then!" I exclaim.
Fenris finally looks back at our group. I realize he's been walking ahead of us for some time. If he heard the rest of the conversation, he doesn't give any indication.