"You know Hawke, tell me where he is… or you die today." Said the man with the Antivan accent. Jennifer scoffed at him, but as others jumped down from the rooftops she paused and cursed. When she began to back up, heading for the safety of Fenris' mansion, the Antivan moved towards her, dagger still in hand.
Before Jennifer could so much as blink, the Antivan cried out in pain, a dagger protruding from his right shoulder and a spray of blood splattered along the side of Jennifer's face. Jennifer looked around for the source of the dagger, and there above her on the roof opposite of the Antivan an elf with red hair and a cheeky smirk crouched. She spun a blade in her hand as she stood and leapt down as another shot an arrow, narrowly missing her leg. The elf landed with a grunt and sprung back to her feet to whirl about and stab the archer just as he was about to fire another shot, though he turned instead shooting a comrade in the dead center of the head.
More arrows were fired and the elf used the man as a shield against them before launching her other knife at an archer high on the roof. The others, suddenly aware of the elf, joined into the fray, one swinging at her with a large sword. She deflected his blow, slicing just under his chin before turning to the next victim. She leapt over a railing, dodging the blow of a heavy mace only to land on a man she had sent over the railing with a kick moments before. Slice and dodge, stab and kick, she worked her way to the Antivan that had threatened Jennifer. She grabbed hold of the blade still deep within his shoulder and she winked. She winked! "Kill her! Kill them both!" He cried before the elf removed her blade only to slice at his neck with another. She turned towards Jennifer with the same cheeky smirk.
"Well? What are you waiting for." She asked as she gestured to the remaining assailants with a tweak of her head.
"Oh! Right!" Jennifer tumbled as an archer took aim and joined the fray.
-ooo-
She had to admit, she felt a little inadequate compared to this strange elf that nearly defeated all of the assailants. Jennifer helped too, of course, her magic and maces, she was sure, crucial to the fight. When the last of the men fell she looked to find the elf crouched over one of the men shaking her head. "Sloppy." She stood walking towards Jennifer. "You would think the Crows would be better at this. They've been doing it for ages."
"Impeccable timing, but I'm sorry… who're you?" Jennifer asked, blinking at the elf in green and black leathers, two wicked looking daggers at her back.
"My name is Tallis." She said with a slight bow. "And I've been looking for you, or well… the Champion."
"You're looking for Garrett?" Jennifer blinked again.
"Looking for the man with an invitation to Chateau Haine, to be specific." Tallis said with a shrug.
"Oh, from Duke Prosper. Ugh…" She grimaced. "He's a creep, fawned all over me at the banquet Hawke and I attended last season. He was talking about some sort of hunt. Though I would never go to such a thing." Jennifer peered at Tallis with a weary glance folding her arms.
"I was hoping the two of you would reconsider." She paced a short step before turning to pace again. "The Duke is a delightful host – or… so I hear."
"So I'm assuming this isn't just a social call, and you didn't save my skin out of the kindness of your heart." Jennifer quirked a brow at the woman before her.
"I need to relieve him of something he has no right to possess." The elf turned towards her with a worried expression. "And…" She looked at the ground. "I can't do it alone."
"What sort of something, though I have no qualms with stealing from Orlesians, I would rather know what Garrett and I will be getting into before we join you." She placed her hands on her hips and looked at Tallis.
" A jewel…" She answered lamely. "The Duke thinks it's valuable- and it is – just not in the way he believes." She turned back. "What's more, he shouldn't have it in the first place. He who wishes to walk on water must first learn to swim."
"To know the water, and a place of humility." Jennifer responded and Tallis only blinked.
"This wasn't actually how I was planning to ask you this." She looked around. "I was picturing an introduction containing less… blood."
"I'm assuming you would be accompanying us?" Jennifer asked shifting from one foot to the other.
"That was the plan. Come with me to Chateau Haine. I'll explain everything on the way." She smirked once again. "If nothing else, you get fine wine and fancy company. But… I hope you want more than that." She murmured as she walked away.
"Hey! But wai- Aw… Holy crap balls!" She scuffed her boot on the hard stone pathway before trekking back to the estate to talk with what was no doubtedly going to be a less-than-enthused Garrett. She entered the estate with a call that she was back before trekking up the stairs towards Garrett's room. She moved to grab the handle of the door but stopped, past experiences warning her to at the very least –knock. So she did – and he answered.
What she opened the door too was what she was hoping to avoid as Isabela jumped from Garrett and buried herself under the covers. "Ugh! Garrett! That's why I was knocking!" She quickly covered her eyes. "Common courtesy and all."
Hawke chucked and reached for his small clothes and house coat. "But it's so much fun to see you squirm, and so cute to see you blush."
"Isabela, you are a horrible influence and one day you will pay for your crimes." Jennifer grumbled.
"I haven't yet, sweet thing!" Isabela tapped Jennifer on the shoulder and smiled as the girl slowly opened her eyes.
"Listen, Garrett, if you are fully dressed I have something to tell you, and you may or may not like it." She was hoping for the latter.
Garrett sat at the foot of his bed, waiting patiently until Jennifer felt brave enough to chance a glance. "So, here's the thing, I was attacked by some Antivan Crows, looking for you, but instead of being completely overwhelmed, I was only minorly overwhelmed because an elf with red hair and a cheeky smirk intervened and helped me kill them all. Her name was Tallis and she's looking for a way into Chateau Haine, she heard you have an invitation and wants you and me to accompany her to the hunt at Duke Prospers." Jennifer inhaled deeply as she finished and looked at Hawke for any clue that she needed to flee.
Hawke blinked. "What does she need into Chateau Haine for?"
"She needs to steal a jewel that doesn't rightfully belong to the Duke." Jennifer replied.
Isabela jumped with giddiness. "Ooh pilfering, I've always loved pilfering."
"What kind of jewel?" Hawke smirked at Isabela and stood.
"She didn't say, but she already expects you to go, because she didn't give me a chance to reply and she also seems the type to say no."
Hawke sighed, "Very well, Mother says I need to 'rub elbows' more anyways." He moved to his wardrobe and removed a large packing bag. "Get your things, I'll grab Fenris and Sebastian. Sebastian might know some of these nobles, dealing with them far more than I have. I'll meet you at the Docks," He threw some items in his bag without any organization and motioned for Isabela to follow as they headed out of the manor. Jennifer sighed and walked to her room before grabbing a similar bag and packing it neatly as well as packing the emerald dress she had worn for the home warming gathering she had with her friends.
She groaned at the thought of having to 'rub elbows' with the Duke Prosper but hoped that conversation would be a minimum considering he was hosting the gathering for the hunt. After checking her bags twice she left the estate heading for Lowtown and hoping to meet with Hawke – and Fenris – at the Docks.