The Years in Between 36
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After the great prank war of Kirkwall, there had been a tension growing in the air. Varric and Isabela were released from the Gallows after a very long talk from Aveline, complaining about how they were irresponsible, and had spoken to Hawke about their bill. She refused as Varric had involved Isabela, even though the both promised not to, leaving the group on a form of break.
That was just over a week ago, but much had happened in that time. The Qunari had received a petition from the people of Kirkwall, asking them to leave before trouble started. The Arishock shrugged and did nothing, as the Qunari seemingly always did. They did nothing; yet people hated them. Religion always seemed to be a problem for most cities, some citizens believing in the Maker and his bride Andraste, dwarves worshiping their ancestors as Paragon's, and the Qunari, following the way of the Qun. Yet there was never a drastic divide between dwarves and Andrasteians, or even between those who did not follow a particular religion.
It was simply the Qunari.
On top of the threat to the Qunari, a lone human, obviously drunk, had started screaming down at the docks, condemning the Qunari and their way of life. He had been shouting at the top of his lungs outside the complex for an hour before the Qunari told him to be silent. The man had stabbed a Qunari solider and ended up with his neck broken as retribution from the Qunari.
So Kirkwall was a tense city once more.
Not that it needed anymore tension, with the city being aflame with talk of mage and Templar every second, of every day.
At least things were getting interesting again.
Fenris drank from the bottle of wine he had opened and sighed. He was running low on Aggregio, but he refused to drink that swill in the Hanged Man. He had been surprised that he and Hawke had escaped Aveline's wrath, while the dwarf and wench had suffered. Aveline had come to him yesterday and had given him a warning not to encourage Hawke into doing these stupid things. He scoffed at that thought.
Hawke did what she wanted.
And if you got in her way, Maker help you.
That was one of the things he liked about her, her resolve. She didn't waver to opinion, or second guess herself; she thought of a good plan and would stick to it. Hawke was fearless, even when it came to her mother; she would stand up straight, look her square in the eyes, and make her point. She was strong. She was smart. She was beautiful.
Yet he couldn't push himself to try for a relationship with her.
But he knew what stopped him.
His past. He was afraid. Fenris scowled at the bottle, before drinking heavily. He was a warrior, a survivor, he should not be afraid… yet he was. Fenris was afraid of what she would think of his past… what he had done to those Fog Warriors. Would she be disgusted with him? Shun him? He had never been so open about his past with any other person. And the very thought of being exposed in a relationship… the thought alone was terrifying.
Fenris finished the bottle with a shudder, not from the cold, but from a fear. He heard the soft footfalls on his roof of a familiar rogue coming in his direction. He set the bottle down by his chair as a pair of armoured boots appeared from the large hole in the roof. A mop of red hair followed, and he looked up to see Hawke's grinning face staring down at him.
"Afternoon," Hawke grinned down at him, a song in her voice.
"Good afternoon, Hawke. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Fenris smiled as she jumped down into his bedroom, landing gracefully.
"Well, Varric forfeited the bet, since he used Isabela. And they had to go make a formal apology to the Viscount and the Knight Commander, so I'm going to take full advantage to run up my tab. Coming?" Hawke laughed as he pondered the thought for a second.
"Depends… how much damage are you going to do to the dwarf's coin purse?" Fenris smiled as Hawke brushed her hair behind her ears.
"Well, I told Corff about the bet and asked for my tab. My bill is five sovereigns, and Varric's is seventeen sovereigns. So, we need to push up the price. So come on and help me wind him up." Hawke laughed as he stood with a sigh.
"Very well, as long as we can wipe that smug grin off his face, then we have a deal."
"One step ahead of you."
"… again, we are sorry for causing such a disruption and ruining the city." Varric said politely to a cross Viscount, Grand Cleric and Knight Commander. The Viscount wasn't happy as they had vandalised the city, the Grand Gleric wasn't happy as they disrupted morning prayers and caused damages to the Chantry. And the Knight Commander… to say she wasn't happy was an understatement.
She was beyond pissed off.
Frankly, if she were allowed, Meredith would have torn their heads off and put them on spikes outside the Gallows as a warning.
Some people just didn't appreciate art.
"Very well, the city accepts your apology," Viscount Dumar sighed, ignoring the death glare he received from Meredith, before he continued. "Guard Captain Aveline will give you cleaning supplies to clean the Chantry and the Hightown Market, so go and talk to her before you leave."
"Yes Excellency."
"Yes Excellency," Varric and Isabela mumbled in union, bowing slightly before leaving his office, but not before hearing the start of a rant from the Knight Commander about influences and magic. The pair of rogues sighed as they walked over to the Barracks.
"How in the void did this become my day?" Isabela groaned as they walked across the keep.
"Because we underestimated the power of our dear Hawke," Varric chuckled darkly as they passed the doors to the Barracks where Aveline was standing with a large grin on her face.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here," The guard smiled evilly as the two rogues came to a stop just before her.
"Yes, yes, we deserved this, bla, bla, bla. We're a disgrace to Kirkwall, but mostly ourselves, bla, bla, bla. We get it," Isabela groaned, and Aveline smiled. The Guard Captain turned around and picked up a mop and a bucket, filled with water and sponges. She gave Varric the bucket, and shoved the mop into Isabela's hands with a large grin.
"That you did, now get cleaning, the Chantry smells funny, and the locals have been complaining. And the Market better be spic and span by nightfall."
"That only leaves us three hours," Isabela gasped as Aveline chuckled.
"Well then, you better get started."
Varric and Isabela groaned as they began the walk out of the Keep, down the Viscount's way. As they reached the end, they caught sight of Hawke and Fenris coming from his mansion and sighed heavily.
"How long do you think it will take for them to just do it?" Isabela smiled as a familiar glint found its way to Varric's eyes.
"Well, the elf told me, that he wasn't quite ready yet, but with the Qunari causing trouble, I think he better make his move while he has the chance. Or the choice may not be his," Varric sighed, and Isabela raised a curved eyebrow at the dwarf.
"Wow, getting rather deep there Varric," she laughed.
"Beware the dark, as it is loneliest of all?" Varric chuckled as they walked along to the Chantry.
"Are we having one of our Bull Shitting games again? Oh goodie. Now let me think… Kittens are cute, but they are dragons in disguise?"
"Let this poem make me your fella, please love me my sweet, Isabela." Varric burst out laughing as he ran up the steps of the Chantry, as fast as his legs would take him.
"You bastard, get back here! Did Hawke tell you about that?" The pirate fumed as she chased after him.
"Better than that, she gave me the poems." Varric giggled as Isabela glowered viciously.
"Oh, I am so going to kill her."
"Get in line, Rivaini."
"Next three rounds on me! Corff, add it to my tab, which Varrc will deal with later." Hawke bowed dramatically, as the cheers of appreciation went up around the Hanged Man. The numerous patrons were happy to be getting free drink, and so half of Lowtown had been drafted in. Since it was only three coppers a pint, she needed an almost legendary amount of drinking in order to match Varric's tab. She had found Merrill wandering around the Lowtown Bazar, after being pickpocketed, so the young Dale was sitting with her and Fenris in Varric's suite.
"So why are we celebrating? Is this another Free Marches holiday I forgot about?" Merrill wondered aloud from her seat across from Fenris. Hawke had taken Varric's usual spot, so was sitting between Merrill and a grumbling Fenris, who was obviously not happy being close to a Blood Mage.
"We're celebrating beating Varric." Hawke grinned before she took a swig of her ale, ignoring the bitter taste for the moment.
"Like in Diamond Back or in Wicked Grace?"
"Not as such, Merrill. Fenris and I bet him and Isabela in a game of wit. As our prize, he has to pay for my tab here." Hawke smiled and clinked mugs with Fenris.
"But… if Fenris worked with you, should Varric and Isabela not have to pay for you both?" Merrill blushed as Hawke's eyes went wide, before they lit up with mischief.
"That is a very good plan, Merrill. Fenris, how much is your tab?" Hawke turned to her warrior friend who smirked back at her.
"Not enough."
"That settles it then," Hawke stood and walked to the stairs before she shouted. "Corff, no more cheap ale. Varric is buying, bring out the good stuff." Hawke grinned as the owners eyes lit, up and a chorus of applause went up for the rogue. Hawke grinned, making her way back to her spot in the suite. "So, what is the general plan for the next few days? I have to go see the Viscount tomorrow morning, what about you Merrill?"
"Wait, the Viscount summoned you? Did he say what he wanted?" Fenris asked curiously, and Hawke shrugged softly.
"Nope, he just said to come to his office first thing. And I should probably see what Mother has been up to. I've been avoiding as many balls, and lectures as I can, so I have to get up pretty early, but I'll manage." Hawke laughed and Merrill smiled.
"The Keeper was always like that with me. Always telling me what to do and what not to do."
"Either you didn't listen, or she failed to tell you that Blood Magic is evil." Fenris growled, and Hawke sighed to herself.
She was convinced that he could start an argument in an empty room.
"I will restore my people's history. You should be supporting me Fenris, you know how our kind suffers." Merrill said softly.
"I know true suffering. The suffering in this city is nothing compared to being a slave. If you went to Tevinter, I am sure you would fit in well, they would welcome a monster like you." Fenris snarled, and Hawke groaned.
"Alright, let's all take a deep breath of ale, and calm down. I don't want any more fighting today, and if either of you has a problem with keeping your trap shut, then I'll see you tomorrow. Alright?" Hawke looked between the two elves, who nodded silently, before sitting down with a sigh. "So Merrill, what are you doing tomorrow?" Hawke smiled at the nervous elf. Merrill blushed as she started to speak, but was stopped as a grubby looking Isabela and Varric walked into the Hanged Man.
"Where is she?" Isabela fumed, glaring around the tavern before her eyes caught sight of Hawke in Varric's suite. The pirate stormed her way up the stairs, and Hawke turned to Fenris before she got there.
"Fenris, protect me!" Hawke begged as the pirate burst into the room.
"Nope." Fenris grinned as Varric waddled after the pirate.
"You gave Varric the poems?" Isabela glowered, and Hawke laughed nervously.
"And you beat us. I still can't believe it." Varric sighed softly.
"If you guys are upset about that, you really shouldn't see the bill."
"HAWKE!"
Fenris walked Hawke back through the darkened roads of Hightown towards her estate. They had almost been thrown out of Varric's suite when he saw the new bill, a proud fifteen sovereigns, ten more than she originally started off with. They walked past a slightly stained market place, laughing partly because of all the alcohol, but mainly at each other.
"So, the Viscount wants to see you first thing, and you're going to go in drunk?" Fenris chuckled at her.
"Not drunk. Hung-over." Hawke giggled playfully.
"Ah, my mistake. Because going into the halls of power, drunk would be simply unacceptable." Fenris stopped as they reached her door. He looked at the new shields by the sides, painted with the Amell crest. Hawke had been ecstatic when they had finally been put up.
"See, this is why I am the leader, and you are just the good looking sidekick."
"I'm the sidekick?"
"Well, Varric is probably the real sidekick, but you're still the best looking." Hawke laughed softly and Fenris smiled.
"Actually, you are, Hawke." Fenris took her hand and kissed it gently, aware she was watching him with wide eyes. "Unfortunately you are too drunk for me to say or do anything tonight, but I shall see you tomorrow." Fenris dropped her hand and walked away to his estate.
He had decided.
He was ready for her.
All Hawke needed to do was to respond.
Hawke rolled out of bed with a sigh as the morning light hit her directly in the eyes. She groaned and buried her face further into the pillows, feeling the sweet embrace of sleep calling her once again, before she heard Bodhan and Sandal moving around loudly. She sighed softly and dragged herself out of bed, with a smile. She needed to see the Viscount today, but she was more interested in seeing Fenris.
When he kissed her hand last night, she saw a fire in his eyes. He was determined to do something, and by the Maker she was eager to see what it was.
Hawke rubbed her sore head before carefully putting her armour on, trying to make as little noise as possible. Mother would still be annoyed that she blew off another suitor she had chosen for her. She gingerly opened the door, and looked around. After seeing no movement for a few moments, Hawke slipped out of her room and made her way to the main door.
The morning Kirkwall sun shone bright, and Hawke covered her eyes at the surprising intensity. With a heavy sigh, she turned to the Viscount's Keep and began her walk towards it. He probably just wanted to tell her off for Varric and Isabela's actions yesterday.
What else could it be?
Hawke pushed open the large doors of the Keep and looked around the silent Keep. A guard pointed her to the office, so she began the short walk to meet Viscount Dumar.
End of this three year break! Wooo! Didn't actually realise how long three years could be.
Bloody BioWare and their loop holes.
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