9:35 – Kirkwall – Hightown

Coronation


There is silence as he finishes recounting the duel. Some part of him isn't surprised. It's the part that cemented Hawke's legacy, after all. At the same time, silence feels unnatural from the Seeker.

So, of course, he prods, "you seem confused, Seeker."

"So, that really did happen?" For a second, he doesn't see a warrior interrogating him. He sees a still young woman, eyes glittering in delight as a smile blooms on her face. "The Champion killed the Arishok in single combat? That wasn't dramatic license?"

"There were too many witness to try and make it creative." He shrugs. "The most I can do, really, is add some comedy to it, like having Hawke run around like a madwoman trying to avoid being hit or Hawke leaving the room and shooting fireballs through the key hole. The kids like things like that."

"I see." Still, the smile is on her face. "It just sounds so… romantic, really."

"Are you developing a crush, Seeker?"

"What? No!" And now she is back to stern warrior. But he had fun while it lasted. "Don't be ridiculous." She crosses her arms, staring at him. "She just sounds so… heroic in your tales."

"That's because she was. But a real hero, not the glorified nonsense you have in legends." He shrugs. "You met her, once. Do you want to hear about how that event came to be?"

"Yes. Tell me."


I sighed as I watched the guards clear out another group of protesters, leaning against the cool glass of my window. This was the third such thing in as many days. It had been almost half a year since I killed the Arishok, but Knight-Commander Meredith refused to let the nobles elect a new Viscount, and the people were reacting. Something about how the city needed stability more than a leader, and it was the templars who gave it. As if her refusing to let things proceed as normal actually did something to soothe the tensions. The mages were starting to feel suffocated, and no few citizens felt the templars were stepping out of line. But it seemed like Meredith was completely oblivious, or that certain she was right, Orsino's only tactic seemed to be arguing, and Elthina… well, she did a good job breaking up the fights, but seemed to be clinging too tightly on the whole 'oh, they will figure out how childish they are being without my help' idea. I needed to do something, because no one else was, but I wasn't sure what. I just knew if I didn't, more innocent people were going to get caught in the crossfire and the Maker would burn before I didn't at least try something.

"Mistress?" I turned at Orana's voice and she curtseyed to me. "My pardon, mistress," she began, speaking to the floor. "But you have a visitor." Really? Who would be visiting me today? Varric was in a Merchants' Guild meeting until later this afternoon, Anders was swamped with colds, Aveline was trying to keep Kirkwall from imploding, Fenris was on mercenary work, Merrill was teaching some of the elves self-defense, and Isabela… well, she'd left a few weeks ago. She'd promised to come back, but wouldn't say why she was leaving at all. I wondered if it was guilt.

"Has Bodhan shown them in?" I asked, pushing off from the window. She nodded. "All right. Take Sandal with you to your lute lessons. This is likely not a social call, so you don't need to worry about tending to me." She curtseyed again, smiling slightly. "Go on now. I'll be down in a few minutes."

"Yes, mistress." She disappeared down the hall. I lingered by the window a little longer, seeing the last of the protesters sent off peacefully, before heading down myself. As I came down the stairs, Bodhan directed me towards the table in the library where Mother and I had often eaten late breakfasts and lunches.

Of course, Mother wasn't sitting there, though my visitor was a woman. A strangely familiar woman wearing leather armor of high quality with a beautiful bow hooked on the back of her chair. She smiled at me, warming her blue eyes, and she tucked the braided part of her ginger hair behind her ear. "It is good to see you again, Lady Hawke," she greeted, voice heavy with an Orlesian accent. I recognized the voice, though, from Chateau Haine. "Please excuse my sudden visit."

"It's Leliana, isn't it?" I greeted gesturing for her to return to her seat. As she did so, I sat down across from her. "Are you here as an attendant today?"

"No, not to Serenity." She smiled wryly. "I came to Kirkwall as Sister Nightingale." I knew that name. The Left Hand of the Divine elected last year. "Dor… sorry, Justinia worries for Elthina here." Why Elthina? No one was wishing her harm. Yet. "There are some hints of some conspirators trying to make things worse in Kirkwall."

"With all due respect, you don't need conspirators to make things worse." I smiled to Bodhan as he set out some tea for us, and I poured her a cup as he returned to whatever he'd been doing before. Probably organizing my bills. "Meredith and Orsino do just fine without help."

"So I saw, when I arrived." She accepted the tea gladly, features softening when she took a sip. "Ooo, this is good."

"Bodhan is ridiculously skilled at making tea." I studied her as she continued to drink. "So, how does one go from Elthina to me? Did she leave something out of her letter to me earlier?"

"Letter? Oh! To declare you Archmage!" Elthina had been quite pleased to tell me. Meredith had looked like she swallowed a live fish. "No, nothing of the sort. I simply remembered you lived here." I gave her a look and she smiled innocently. "Not going to work, is it?"

"Sorry, but after five years in Kirkwall, I can count the number of people who visit me without needed something on probably two hands, on a good day." I set down my cup, and leaned forward on my arms. "So? Do you need something? Does the Divine?"

"Not yet." At least she was honest. "I was just wondering if you thought about becoming the Viscount here." What? "I think you'd be good at it." I didn't want to lead.

So… "I'm a mage."

"The Divine has declared you Archmage, freeing you of the Circle's chains." Someone was a little idealistic. "Kirkwall exempted you from the whole 'mages have no titles' law when they named you 'Champion'." 'The only one not absolutely bonkers' was considered too. "The people look to you for guidance already." Ugh… she was right about that.

"Varric is here to see you," Bodhan suddenly announced from the doorway. I turned to see Varric waving behind my trusted… well, Bodhan pretty much did everything to run this household, so what did I call him? Steward? "Shall I set up another chair for him?"

"Oh, no, there's no need," Leliana laughed, smiling as she stood up. "I need to get going. Thank you for meeting me, Champion."

"It was my pleasure," I replied automatically. I made no motion to stand, though I did smile at her. "Bodhan will see you to the door. Safe travels."

"Until we meet again." No offense, but I had no desire to meet her again. Still, I kept the smile on my face as Bodhan escorted her out. It only fell when I heard the front door shut, and I breathed out a sigh. Maker, what a headache. Still…

"What were you two talking about?" Varric asked, taking Leliana's vacated seat. He set about getting himself some tea. "Sounded serious."

"She suggested I become Viscount," I answered. Varric promptly dropped the pot with a clatter. "You all right?"

"I might need to get my hearing checked." He shook his head and sighed. "Then again, that might be the least tame thing I expected."

"So, what do you think?" Might as well get to the point.

"You'd hate it."

"That wasn't what I was asking." I smiled wryly and fiddling with my cup and saucer. "Can I buy time for the city?"

"I'd rather you run."

"You and the others would have to come with me." He made a face, just as I expected. "So, I have to stay."

"And do what you don't like. Again. To protect everyone." He sighed heavily and gave me a forlorn look. "I hate this, Hawke. You just got out of the cage."

"I'm just roosting," I reassured. "Just roosting."

"Leave it to me, then. I know how to work the rumors."

"All right."


In two hours, Varric had the seeds planted. In two days, the gossips seemed to take it as fact I would become Viscount. According to them, no less than Knight-Captain Cullen spoke well of me taking the office.

That was when Aveline came to see me. I knew she would.

"Is it just them blowing smoke out of their ass or is it actually something you're considering?" she asked without preamble, walking into the estate without waiting for Sandal to answer the door. I'd been working at my desk, so I stood up to greet her. "If it's the former, we need to get Varric on it. Merrill says the Alienage is buzzing with excitement, and Darktown might be renamed optimist-town according to Anders."

"No, it's intentional," I told her. The blank look on her face told me she hadn't been expecting that answer. "You used to harp on me for not getting a job?"

"I didn't mean you become the leader of this city!" She shook her head. "It's going to fall apart, and everyone will blame you for it."

"They'd blame me anyway. I'm the Champion." She grimaced and I shrugged. "Besides, I'm better than Meredith?"

"I…" She sighed, head dropping. "You got me there." She glanced around and saw the chairs set up in front of the fire. She nodded to them and flopped down in one. I took the other silently, just watching her. "Are you sure about this? Really sure?"

"Aveline, crime rates are going up because your guards are stuck dealing with protesters instead of hunting down the thieves and the murderers," I reminded her bluntly. She winced and looked away from me, watching the fire crackle. "You need time to patrol, but have none. You need to recruit, but you can't. You need to train, but everything is stuck in paperwork and politics."

"This isn't even going into the mages." She rested her head in her hand. "The Knight-Captain has expressed some worries about things. He thinks Meredith might not be following protocols to advance her own agendas."

"Oh?"

"Major changes have to be approved by both her and him. This includes things like the Rite of Tranquility, strengthening the guard and curfews on the mages…" A letter from Bethany mentioned a mage had been hurt severely for being out too late. I'd thought it was an isolated incident, but perhaps… "He sees more mages Tranquil than he's seen requests for, he told me."

"Maybe he should take over," I half-joked before shrugging. "I can buy the city time, Aveline. I need to do that. Everyone will die if I don't."

"I can't say I disagree. I just don't like you going so far out of your comfort zone." I couldn't help but laugh and she gave me a withering look. "Yes?"

"Varric said something similar." I smiled warmly at her. "I'm so blessed with my friends."

"Just remember to not take everything on your own again."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Serah Hawke?" Both Aveline and I stood see a nobleman standing in the entryway of my estate. "We… would like to speak to you," he mumbled, bowing deeply. I glanced around and saw Bodhan lingering behind him, looking at me in question. I nodded and he nodded back. "Please?"

I glanced at Aveline, who sighed heavily, but nodded. "I'll be right there," I told him. I caught the wide smile. "Just give me a minute to change my clothes."


They offered. I accepted. Two weeks after Leliana proposed the idea, I was Viscoount. The process had been long and tedious, with lots of prayers and fittings. Miriel had been thrilled to make me a coronation dress, but I half-wished I'd gone into it with armor. I felt I needed it for the Coronation Ball that followed.

"Meredith looks like she swallowed a lemon," Aveline sighed, downing a glass of wine. She and I were standing on the sides, where she'd been waiting with a glass for me after my welcome speech. "Orsino looks inordinately pleased."

"You officially have my permission to throw them in prison if they try anything," I sighed, subtly stretching my neck before sipping my own wine. "I have reconstruction to worry about."

"Oh, I will." She smiled at me. "Did you manage to see our friends? Donnic and I snuck them in."

"I did." They'd made me smile during the stuffy affair. "Are they here?"

"No, they likely went to the Hanged Man for their own celebrations."

"Leaving me alone here? For shame!"

"I'll scold them later." Yay. "You should make an appearance, reassure them that you all are still friends." I must've looked confused because she elaborated, "Hawke, you're Viscount now, and half of them are only borderline legal." So? "Just reassure. Also, employ Fenris as your bodyguard when you're out and about. I'll feel better."

"If he doesn't mind," I murmured, glancing to the side awkwardly. Another year hadn't made things any less confusing with him. "I can take care of myself."

"Yes, but I'll still feel better." She took my glass from me. "Regardless, I need to get back on duty, and you need to greet some of your guests." And I was not looking forward to it. King Alistair and Queen Serenity were among the foreign guests, along with Arlessa Tabris, not here as Warden-Commander today, with two of her Wardens serving as bodyguards, a Dalish elf mage and a bearded dwarf who wielded an axe. I would have to figure out how to talk to them in a manner that suggested equality and… oh, I was going to make myself sick with anxiety.

"There you are." Startled, I turned to face a woman just a couple years older than me. A stern glare was on her face, and her hair was cropped short. Unlike most people here, she wore armor, and I felt a slight twinge of envy that she got away with it. "I have been looking for you," she continued, shifting slightly and crossing her arms. A small sigh drew my attention to the robed man at her side, who seemed about the same age or a little older. Though he carried no staff, I knew him for a mage. "So…"

"Cassandra, did you even introduce yourself?" the man asked with slight exasperation. "There go your absolutely wonderful people skill again." He lightly poked the woman in the cheek. She batted at his hand and ducked her head to hide her smile. "Pardon our rudeness, Lady Hawke. I am Regaylan of White Spire, escorting the Hero of Orlais, Right Hand of the Divine-"

"I am Cassandra Pentaghast," the woman interrupted, facing me with a half-glare and a frown. The man shook his head and rolled his eyes. "A pleasure."

"The honor is mine," I said without missing a beat. They were fun, rather like my friends. "I'm glad someone else here doesn't care for formality."

"She's also fighting the urge to squeal at having met you in person," Regaylan told me. Cassandra immediately flushed and looked away. "Stories of your exploits have long since reached Orlais."

"No doubt spread by Varric."

"Varric Tethras, right? He's written a lot of books, all of them popular. I've read many of them and Cassandra here has read-MMMPH!"

"She doesn't need to hear that!" Cassandra interrupted, clapping her hand over his mouth. I bit back a laugh at just how flustered she was. "Not. At. All."

"Mhmm." She slowly retracted her hand and he stole it briefly to kiss her fingertips, making her flush red. Oh my. "Now then, where was this conversation going? Ah, yes, congratulations for your coronation. It's been buzzing all through the Circles. I'm half-surprised Madame de Fer isn't here."

"If you're talking about Court Enchanter Vivienne, she has to tend to something for Empress Celene," I answered, letting the subject change so that Cassandra could calm down. "We arranged for a luncheon later, though."

"I'm sure she's delighted to hear that." He sounded sincere enough. "Cassandra, I think we should greet some of your other heroes." She glowered at him, but he just smiled. "If you'll excuse us?"

"Certainly. I look forward to talking to you later." That statement seemed to put Cassandra into a good mood as she and Regaylan disappeared into the moving crowd. Okay, who did I talk to now? There were some people heading my way, and I vaguely recognized them as nobles who were big on talk, little on brains, and I really didn't want to deal with them just yet.

"Congratulations, Lady Hawke." This speaker was a woman quite a few years younger than me. Her fashionable dress emphasized her muscled stature, though even with heels, she was shorter than me. She wore her hair longer than I've seen most women warriors wear theirs, in a braid that fell to her hips. "Well met," she continued lightly, with a charming smile. I smiled back as I saw the approaching nobles change direction. "I am Samantha Trevelyan of Ostwick." I knew the family. They were well known for their love of politics and their devotion to the Chantry and Circle both. "I'm the second child, I'm afraid. My older brother intended on coming, but a last minute cold sent me instead. I beg your pardon for it."

"It's fine," I reassured. I snagged two glasses of champagne from a passing server and handed one to her. "It's nice to meet you."

"It is indeed. You and I have a couple things in common." Oh? "I've a little sister in the Circles, for one."

"Really?"

"Yes, I adore her to pieces!" She certainly sounded like it, with the warm voice and even warmer laugh. "Oh, but I don't presume… er… wait, hold on, that made more sense in my head." I laughed outright, and she smiled sheepishly. "Shame I can't just start over."

"It's fine." I felt myself slowly relax as I talked to her. She just had that sort of aura. "I don't mind. Few talk of family in the Circles."

"Ostwick is a rather ambivalent Circle from what I've seen. Lucina gets to visit home a lot, with permission." Oh? "A lot of Circles actually have that set up. Then you've got others, like the Gallows." She covered her mouth and glanced around furtively. "Oh, good, no one overheard that. Mother always scolds me for being untactful. I tell her it's because I'm nineteen." No wonder she seemed so young. Thankfully, the only templars here were simply on duty for the 'entertainment' planned later. "Do you mind?"

"No, of course not."

"Oh good." Laughing to myself at her relieved reply, I studied her as she continued to ramble about her little sister, who was apparently five years younger. But, as I stared, I no longer saw a laughing young woman gushing about a beloved family member, but one screaming, burning, as the sky pulsed and ripped apart overhead. I saw a temple exploding from magic the world was unprepared for, and everything raining down. "Something wrong?" I blinked, biting back a gasp, and saw Samantha peering up at me, standing on tiptoes to get a good look at my face. "Are you all right?" she asked, frowning slightly in concern. "Do you need to go rest?"

"Perhaps in a bit," I hedged. Still, I tilted my head to the side, studied her a while longer, and took a chance. "If you find yourself in a temple later, be on your guard."

"Huh?"

"Be on your guard and jump on anything that seems out of place." I smiled even as she blinked at me. "Promise?"

"Yeah, I promise?" She sounded so confused. "Oh, look, the dancing is starting."

Ah. So it had. I hadn't noticed the musicians. "And that's my cue to run."

"But you're the guest of honor!"

"I can be so from up on the second floor." I handed her my empty glass. "See you again, Samantha."

"Yeah, see you… wait, no, come back!" I bit back a laugh as she flailed, looking around in confusion as she tried to figure out what to do.

However, as I hit the stairs, I paused to look back at her. If I closed my eyes, I still saw her dying, so I hoped my warning would help her. The Maker should be kind to someone after all.


Author's note: Right. This is, probably, the biggest change to the story. I'm making Hawke become Viscount earlier in the story than you can in game. Why? Because Althea would not sit and watch everything get worse at this point, and it felt horribly wrong for her to not do something. So, here she is, Viscount of Kirkwall until everything falls apart.

This is also where I cameo one of the four POV characters for Inquisition's Tale: Samantha, a human warrior (and pointing out that we're seven years from Inquisition in-game, so some parts of her personality here won't be there in the later story). (For those who read Things Get Weird, Samantha is the one who didn't show up there.) I also decided to cameo Cassandra just for the sheer fun of it, as well as a few others. Leliana's appearance is based off the Act 3 quest 'Faith', which is Sebastien's final companion quest. I also figured she'd be the one to suggest becoming Viscount, seeing Hawke as a skilled person and leader, not knowing that Hawke would hate every minute of it.

Next Chapter – Year 6