She'd been in and out of the Keep for weeks.
After witnesses testified against Javeen for the murder of Lacrissa Linett, a long harrowing investigation into her and Lacrissa began. She'd seen the Viscount's face more than she had in the past four years. A few nobles rallied against her, having been close to Lacrissa financially. Javeen refused to believe the nobles had been actual friends of the woman, but they clearly shared a lot of land or prospects that they were now losing thanks to the death of their meal ticket. Those nobles included, of course, the two Linett sons.
But the guard tore apart the Linett home for evidence in her involvement with the assassination attempt, and after three weeks, found hidden letters in a secret compartment built in Lacrissa's personal bathroom. They were correspondence between her and one of the guild masters of the Crows, with instruction and the name of the assassin, and the promises of a business transaction. She must of kept them in case of failure, and needed proof for a possible refund.
The nobles backed out of their support rather quickly when this was discovered.
After this discovery, Javeen's actions were deemed as necessary, given the circumstances of that day. She was still fined a sum of one hundred gold pieces for damages to the remaining family, who had confessed their mother's hatred of their half sister when the evidence was found. Javeen handed the money over with no argument. It was over.
Her only regret was how Joanna looked at her now.
Her house arrest now over, Javeen returned to the Compound, which had remained unchanged by the absence. She was behind on her lessons, and sought out her pupil eagerly.
"The Kaaras is not here," one of his subordinates told her when she failed to find him, "he and a few selected others are negotiating with the Viscount."
That made her feel better. If they were in negotiations like they had talked about before, then the Viscount did not see them at fault in this whole mess. That was something, at least. He usually defaulted to suspecting them. All she could hope for was that the talks would go well, and maybe, just maybe, Kirkwall could finally get its head out of its ass and finally make good progress with the Qunari.
Satisfied, Javeen left the Compound. It was going as it should, and it was better not to seek out her friends when they were busy at their duties. Joanna needed more time. It was a terrible thing but...seeing Lacrissa die was too much for her. This wasn't completely comparable but...it reminded her of Orana a lot. If an elven slave could love and care for their master...then it wasn't a stretch that Joanna still loved her mother and was mourning her. What they both needed was time. Orana was much better than she used to, and she was slowly seeing her situation for exactly what it was- lifelong violence and humiliation that stripped her of her autonomy- and stopped making excuses for Hadriana.
One day, Joanna would come to terms with what her mother really was. It would be okay if she never forgave Javeen for what she did...but one day she would be able to accept it.
Javeen instead went to the Hanged Man. Maybe Varric had something new to tell.
Oddly, Varric wasn't there. He always seemed to be present when she came by, though thinking on that now, that was weirder and not very healthy. A cheerful "Hawke!" came from the bar, where Isabela was leaning over with a few finished drinks and a bowlful of cherries. She patted the empty seat next to her.
"Nice to see you out of your house," Isabela grinned as Javeen joined her, "without going crazy, somehow. I still can't believe you refused my offer to sneak out."
Javeen shrugged. "Didn't feel like breaking the law. Again."
Isabela's grin grew to a more concerned smile. "Yeesh. This whole thing did a number on you."
"Mn."
Isabela offered her a cherry. It was sweet, but had a hint of boozy aftertaste.
Javeen raised an eyebrow. "Did you dip these in your beer?"
"Nope. That's just how Hanged Man cherries taste like."
"Gross."
Isabela laughed. "Yeah, they're awful."
"So, how've you been Isa? Anything new?"
Isabela popped another cherry into her mouth. "I've been bored, that's what. When are you gonna take me somewhere nice again?"
Javeen gave her a blank stare. "Nice."
"Yeah! Like the Bone Pit, the sewers again, the Deep Roads-"
Chuckling, Javeen shook her head. "You and I have a different definition of nice."
"Pfft, obviously they were all terrible. But terrible is fun too."
She wasn't wrong about that. On a more serious note, Javeen looked over at her friend. In a way, she was like the qunari too. She was stuck here, wanting to find something. One of her closest friends. "I haven't given up, either. Finding it."
Isabela smiled. "I know. You never give up."
Javeen's eyes grew hard as she stared at the bar table. "And when...when we find it, I'll buy you a ship. Then we can really go somewhere...nice."
Eyes wide, Isabela leaned over. "Wait. You want to be a pirate? With me? What about Kirkwall?"
"What the hell is left here?" Javeen sighed. "Mother is gone. Eventually, the Qunari will return home. Once that happens...what is there for me to do? Remain as a noble in the worst city in the goddamn world? I'd rather hang myself."
"What about Merrill?"
"I have a feeling that she'd love the idea of exploring the sea," Javeen smiled, "but I won't force her to go."
"And your sister?"
Javeen just gave her a look. They were in public, so she had to be careful of what she said out loud. "I'll take care of it."
Isabela knew Javeen planned one day to break her out. If Beth even wanted that.
"I...you've really thought about this, huh?"
"Three weeks of house arrest will do that."
Isabela laughed, but it was such a happy laugh, it made Javeen's heart beat a little faster. "Well. It's a plan, then. You, on my ship. As my crew. Maker, that's going to be..." She grinned. "Merrill will be so cute as a pirate."
"That she would."
"...so, once all this business with the Qunari is done, that's when we'll-?"
Javeen nodded. "Once the Qunari find what they're searching for, yeah."
Suddenly, her smile vanished and she couldn't meet her eyes. "I-I doubt it will be so easy. They're stubborn."
Javeen snorted. "Oh, and we aren't stubborn? I'll help them any way I can. Something important was taken, and they can't leave without it."
"They should just leave," Isabela said quietly. "No object is that important."
Javeen shook her head. "With the Quanri, I've learned that really isn't true."
"...you do care for them, huh."
"Yeah," Javeen smiled, "I really do."
Isabela was very quiet for a few moments, and Javeen couldn't tell if the look on her face was more worried or troubled, but then she grinned and tapped Javeen's shoulder with a fist. "You softy. What happened to that rock hard woman who could barely make nice on a good day?"
"Living like that..." Javeen said slowly, looking into an empty cup, "made me miss out on a lot of time with people I can't get back. I don't want to make that mistake ever again."
Glancing outside, evening was just starting to unveil itself in Kirkwall, and Javeen stood from her seat. "Speaking of. I'm heading back ho- to the estate. Merrill wanted to make dinner tonight with Orana. Want to come?"
Isabela grinned and shook her head. "And get in the way of your cute date? Go have fun."
Javeen nodded and left. She did not see Isabela put her face into her hands.
A day passed and a letter came to Hawke manor. It was from the Viscount.
It was very brief. Messier too, like he had written it in a hurry. Javeen rolled her eyes. She could never get a bloody break.
"Merrill," she called, "I'm going to see the Viscount. Hold down the fort, will you?"
"Oh dear," Merrill said from the balcony, "have fun, then!
"I never do."
She wished she had taken it more seriously. She wished she had run. Why hadn't she learned-?
Javeen looked at the Viscount blankly. "...what do you mean, they went missing?"
At least he had the decency to look broken. "I made sure to have people report back when they returned safely. They...they never did. Their weapons were bound Hawke. If they were attacked-"
"How in the fuck," Javeen screamed, then lowered her voice slightly, "did someone take them from under your nose- How-"
And then it hit her. The guard. It had to be. Who else would he send that could have done it? Someone from the inside who knew about the meeting and just waited for-
Oh my god, Kaaras. Javeen ran to Aveline.
She was already prepared. They wasted no time and collected Merrill from the estate and Fenris from not too far away. They'd get Varric and Isabela from their destination; the Hanged Man. Where else would you find a corrupt guard, still pretending to be a good guy? Aveline had her suspicions on who it was, from guard schedules and a group who went off the radar for a moment during their shift. It had to be them. It had to be.
It was silent when they burst through the door, beelining towards the group of guards deep into their drinks. They were spending a lot of money. Just the look on Javeen's face was enough to get people out of their way.
The leader of the group stood. "Captain? What-?"
Aveline gave him a cold look. "I need you to stay calm and explain something to me, guardsman. What happened with the Qunari?"
The guard just looked at her, incredulous. "Why do we even care about what happens to the-?"
In seconds, Javeen had him by the throat.
"O-oh, Maker," he gasped, "I-I can't breathe-"
"If you don't tell me where they are," Javeen snarled, "I will choke the life out of you and get it from your second."
The guard's purpling face shook as he struggled, but her grip was far too strong. But it was her eyes-those weird fucking ice blue eyes that somehow looked like they were on fire- that was what made his heart stop and his breeches foul. "H-help-"
"Hawke," Aveline pleaded, "he can't say it if he's dead!"
Javeen's jaw went hard. She loosened her grip.
"A-a templar!" The guard choked after taking a shuddering breath. "A templar with the Grand Cleric's seal!"
Her eyes went cold. "That is not a location."
"I don't know it! I don't know it, I swear! We- we handed them off to the templar! He didn't tell us where they were going and we didn't-didn't care to know! Please, I swear it, please let me go-"
Her eye twitched, but Javeen let the guard go. He fell to his knees gasping and clutching his very bruised throat. She scanned the rest of the guardsmen, all too frozen with fear to help their friend. Then she turned to Aveline. "If I see any of these people in guard uniform again..."
"I-I'll deal with it," Aveline said, "but...Hawke you can't seriously think the Grand Cleric-"
Javeen turned away, not answering. Actually, she could think that. But not this time. There was someone else that was far more likely.
When they reached the Chantry, down Aveline as she stayed back to hopefully arrest those guards, Varric gave her a concerned look. "Hey. So the plan isn't to strangle the Grand Cleric right? Because I don't think Aveline could save you from that, uh, legally."
She still stayed silent. Her companions all exchanged nervous looks, unsure this time. They'd follow her anywhere...but attacking the Grand Cleric was-
"Serah Hawke."
A voice called from further in the Chantry, a terrible familiar one. Her cropped hair still the same as ever, eyes cold and dull, Sister-oh hell, it was Mother Petrice now, she'd heard- stood waiting for them. Annoyingly calm as well. Like she had all the answers and was three steps ahead. Three years since Javeen had seen this woman and still...still she felt that bubbling fakeness that she oozed out of her pores. Now that Lacrissa was dead...she was back at the top of her list.
"Now, what brings you the Chantry today? I don't believe you are much of a...devout follower."
"Where are the qunari."
Petrice shook her head. "I'm afraid I have no idea what-"
"No, that's fine," Javeen cut off, "I'm sure the grand Cleric will be happy to know that one of her templars used her seal to kidnap protected diplomats from under her nose, and that one of her mothers is a part of it. Imagine the scandal."
Ah, there is was. The glare. Petrice had perfected it, and it was the last thing Javeen saw from her three years ago. She was calculating. If the Grand Cleric got involved, that would expose her. She needed to control that information, and present it her way so that to keep her involvement safe. And if that got Javeen to them quicker...then it was worth it. Petrice would get hers soon enough.
"Stubborn.." Petrice growled under her breath, "Very well, Hawke. I do have an idea of who committed this...crime. Do you remember the templar I was with three years ago-Ser Varnell? He has become...unruly in the last three years, so it does not surprise me that he would attempt something like this. I have been keeping tabs on him, so I know of a certain building he seems to favour."
Javeen very much wanted to question the fact that it was her lackey who kidnapped the qunari and is still denying involvement, but there was no time. She took the location and ran. Gathered Anders, as he was on the way. And when she was upon the dingy door of Ser Varnell's hideout, nothing could stop her from ramming through.
Silly traps were laid throughout, a secret corridor made obvious with the trace of blood. Heart plummeting and beating in her ears, Javeen and her friends followed the tracks and the drag marks to a large, open corridor, where the qunari were chained against the far wall. Ser Varnell stood in front of them, with several other people-townsfolk it looked like, as they wore civilian clothing and looked rather frightened that they had showed up.
Kaaras was there. He was in the middle of the wall, and for a terrifying moment Javeen thought he was dead, but his head was raised- bloodied. His whole body was bloodied. The others-his subordinates-they did not look alive. Their heads were down, not moving. Pure rage-rage of seeing this again, it was mother again in a dungeon, being mutilated-and Javeen screamed in her anger.
Ser Varnell only grinned, and raised a dagger to Kaaras' neck. Just as Javeen grabbed Arzhela, Petrice's voice rang from behind. She must have followed closely when they left the Chantry and let them take care of the traps she knew were there.
"Ser Varnell! You will stop this."
He paused. "Why?" he asked, "we need to show people that they can be killed."
"You would defy the Grand Cleric so openly?" Petrice demanded. "Lower your weapon, ser. Surrender yourself to the mercy of the Chantry, and you will live."
Her acting made Javeen want to puke.
Ser Varnell considered. His hand twitched, and Javeen let loose her arrow, as he drew back to deliver the final blow. The arrow went through the unarmoured part of his wrist, making him howl and drop the dagger. As Javeen bull rushed towards him, he called "Now!" to the others, and a door in the back revealed even more people-more townsfolk- that he had converted to this. They were holding bows. Her companions joined the fight then.
He didn't have time to draw his sword as Javeen tackled him to the ground. She held him down as she grabbed her own dagger, but he did well to keep her at bay. He shoved her, hard, and in the motion Javeen turned towards where Kaaras was held. In that moment...she saw him. What they had done. His...his hands were bare. Skinned. But he looked at her. His eyes bleary, he looked in her eyes.
"Bird of..."
His head slumped forward.
"No!" Javeen cried out, just as Ser Varnell kicked her off him. She landed heavily onto the dirt floor, trembling.
She rolled out of the way of his sword, thrusting her leg to the back of his knee. He lost his footing and fell, grunting as he landed on his hands to stay upward, forgetting one of his wrists still had an arrow in it. He gasped in pain, and Javeen used that moment to tackle him once more.
She slammed her fists into his head, over and over, until her knuckles felt raw. Eventually, he did not have the strength to fight back. It took her time to realize he no longer moved, barely recognizable.
Panting, she looked around her, finding lots of bodies of the zealots. But it wasn't over, there still were some fighting. Some were trying to flee. She gritted her teeth and stood, drawing Arzhela and activating the rune recently added to her. Blue light emanated from the bow, and she aimed upward. Her lyrium eyes glowed.
One arrow, completely covered in this blue light, flew over the fleeing zealots and burst-transforming into dozens upon dozens of blue arrows. They rained down upon the people attempting to open the door. Screams echoed throughout the chamber as they all fell.
Javeen paid them no mind. She was desperately removing the chains from Kaaras, her hands shaking horribly. She pulled and pulled- a strength some mothers knew when their children were in danger- opened the wristbands of the chains holding him. Javeen nearly collapsed under his weight, but she slowly went to her knees, placing him gently onto the ground.
"ANDERS-!"
He was already there, hands blue. She could see Kaaras' breath expanding his chest, but it was so weak-he was alive but just barely-
Javeen just placed her hands on the biggest wound still bleeding, wishing she had more so she could stop all of it. Her mind flashed back to holding her mother, screaming when she died. Please, no, not again-
And then Kaaras gasped. He breathed, gulping in air, strained as it was. Anders squeezed his eyes shut and concentrated, another wave of magic cradling Kaaras. When it was over, Javeen raised her hands. The bleeding had at least stopped.
Exhausted and sweaty, Anders pulled back as the glow in his eyes disappeared. "He-he's stable, for now. We should take him home."
She stood frantically, searching the room. "We can't bring him back yet-" she said, turning over debris in the room and opening doors. "W-we have to find their weapons."
"What?" Anders shook his head. "He needs medical attention- more than I can provide. We can't waste time-"
"Oh, thank fuck-" Javeen breathed in relief. She found the weapons stashed away in a supply room. All were accounted for.
"Hawke! Are you listening? If we don't-"
"We need stretchers," Javeen said quickly, "and make sure these two swords are with him, he'll need to see them when he wakes up-"
Anders gave up, and just started to prepare Kaaras for travel. Merrill went over to Javeen, and took her hand. "Ma'vhenan..."
Javeen's hand shook so badly that Merrill's eyes widened. She rested her forehead on the shoulder of her lover, heartbroken over all of this. Why did this keep happening? Why to Hawke?
Suddenly there were voices coming through the way they came. It was a small party of guard, the Viscount leading. He paled at the sight of the corpses. "Hawke...what happened here?"
Javeen swallowed, pushing back the manic fear bubbling in her. "A templar used the Grand Clerics seal to persuade the guard and many followers to kidnap and torture the diplomats."
"A templar?" Dumar groaned, putting his hand over his face. "Was he acting alone?"
"I suspect a Mother as well." Of course, Petrice was no where to be found.
"Madness. Madness! Do they not understand how fragile-" He shook his head. "Hawke, I am...I do not know what to do. How should we handle this? S-should we hide the torture-"
He flinched at the look she gave him. Then, he nodded. "You're right...I'm not thinking clearly. I apologize."
"He won't want the bodies anyway, just the weapons. Find a place to...I don't know. Find a place for them where they won't be disturbed, or desecrated." More than they already have.
Dumar nodded sadly. "You will need assistance getting the survivor back to the Compound."
"With respect, Viscount," Javeen snarled, "it will only be myself and my companions who do this. You and your guard have done enough."
And they left him to stew on those words.
The silence was deafening when they arrived at the Compound. No shouts, no panic. They just took Kaaras from them quickly, summoning the healer and rushing him to the Saarebas. Javeen caught the Mashaar's pale face sprinting to the tent, wordless. Then, she made her way to the Arishok's dais, where he sat on his throne and looked the same as he always did.
Her throat tightened the closer she moved towards him. There was no way he was okay. How could she fix this? What could she possibly say to explain, to soothe this wound? How could she stop a-
"Hawke," the Arishok said, and she twitched into a steadier stance. "I will hear what happened from you."
Javeen swallowed, and nodded. She would not lie to him. "A group of zealots lead by a templar kidnapped Kaaras and his subordinates with the help of a few dissident members of the guard. They-they tortured them, hoping to show that they were...killable. When I showed up, only Kaaras still lived. I dispatched the zealots, and found the weapons of Kaaras and the fallen."
The Arishok nodded. "I accept your explanation. I expected nothing less from you."
"You...accept it?" So easily? Where was his anger?
"Why deny what I cannot change?" He stood from his throne, motioning with his head for her to follow. "With me, Hawke."
She nodded to her companions, who looked nervous that she was going so willingly with him. But she did not hesitate to go with him. When they were alone, the Arishok moved a golden eye to her. "Thank you, Hawke. With the weapons secured, we can hold the rites for the fallen. It is...greatly appreciated."
Tears welled in her eyes. She couldn't stop them. Why was he thanking her at all? She didn't deserve a lick of credit, this was her fault- this was...this was a failure.
The Arishok noticed the tears and paused. Javeen quickly wiped at her eyes." S-sorry, I-I'm being stupid. I really tried...I really tried to save them, Arishok. I'm so sorry."
He was silent for a moment. Then he reached over, and wiped at her eyes with a careful finger. "Your apologies and tears are unnecessary. But...I do understand them."
When Javeen composed herself, they continued on. They were heading to the healer's tent, the commotion inside must have calmed down. No blue light, nothing. The Arishok nodded to her. "Go. You should see him."
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Javeen walked through. Kaaras was unconscious, laying peacefully while the healer moved into the back with Joanna, to make potions no doubt. Javeen breathed in as she saw the Mashaar beside Kaaras, running her hand through his hair gently, not looking away from his face. His weapons were placed upon his chest, waiting for him for when he woke up.
Bags under her eyes, the Mashaar regarded her as she approached. "Hawke."
"How...how is he?"
The Mashaar refused to look away from him. "They say the damage on his hands...he won't be able to feel things like he used to. Holding a weapon..his telescope-it won't be the same again."
Her heart ached as she foolishly glanced at his hands-still raw and fleshy-and choked on a sob. "I'm so sorry, Mashaar."
"You saved him. Twice." She finally looked at her. "You don't have anything to be sorry for."
"But I-"
"I won't forgive them for this." The Mashaar's eyes were wide. The fury in them nothing like Javeen had ever seen in her. "You might. But I...I will never."
Javeen felt sick. She wanted to run, or throw herself and beg her to forgive her-because of course she blamed her, of course she hated her- but instead she placed a hand on Kaaras' chest, on a part not riddled with stitches, and took a breath. "Wake up soon, Kaaras. My friend. We need you to come back, okay?"
Tears fell freely from the Mashaar, and Javeen backed away. What else could she say?
The Arishok was waiting for her when she left the tent. She took a shaky breath. "Thanks. For letting me see him."
He nodded, motioning for her to follow him again. They headed back towards the direction of the gates. "He will live?"
She nodded. "He will."
"Then, you achieved your goal. That is a good way to end it."
Javeen stopped walking. "What do you mean...end?"
He stopped, turning towards her. His eyes were not cruel, but they were hardened. "The Kaaras will not be taught about Kirkwall any longer. Therefore, your role here ends."
She almost lost the strength in her knees. "But, Arishok-"
"You have no reason to come here any longer. Unless Kirkwall sends you here, you will not be able to visit us." He tipped his head in a bow. A bow. No, no, no the Arishok bowed to no one, why was he-
"Your work here has been appreciated. You did far more than was expected." He turned away, hands behind his back. "Now, leave."
"Y-you can't do this!" Javeen cried out. She wasn't thinking straight. He was the Arishok, he could very much do it. But after all of... after everything-how could he just...just kick her out like this?
He did not look at her. "If you wish to stay, you must join. That is the only way."
She had been too presumptuous. She stared at her friend, the place he made that gave her such peace, and walked away. She had thought too much of herself. She had wormed her way into this place, hadn't she? This was her fault.
No. That wasn't...that wasn't fully true. Many qunari watched her go, confused as to why she was leaving so soon. They didn't know his decision. It...it wasn't wanted.
It didn't make sense. Her presence was helpful. She never would have been allowed to stay if she hadn't been. What was he thinking? What was he going to do? He had to know...that if he attacked, that would not be for the good of the whole. He had to know it would...it would result in the deaths of so many of his people.
The Arishok did not make mistakes.
Right?
Javeen glanced back at the gates. Well. If he did...even if she couldn't go back...
She would still do what she could to keep the peace.
Anything.
Her brain ablaze, she returned to Hawke manor. Most unlike her, she went straight to her desk, piles and piles of unanswered pleas and jobs to do lay on the surface. She took them all-even the smallest, most uninteresting or ridiculous. She would do them all.
She would do them all, rest be damned.
