Chapter Fifty-Nine
Wayward Sons
(So I still only have one VALID entry to my contest - and I'm not sure what to do with that; Kattz if you're still reading please review with what you want your char to look like - you'll be a Fairy!)
At home the day after the ship left, I hummed and said to Hawke, "Good news – we can relax for a whole damn week – so I'm going to take this chance to set my shops up properly both here and in Danu. Alistair is looking into Denerim shops near the palace too – tsk; I need to hire workers…"
He chuckled, "Who are you looking to hire?"
"Fuck if I know – the most likely is that I'll have Fae as the shop managers at least and then… local populace for the rest of the shop workers. Mostly, I want to hire refugees and elves here in Kirkwall, while Denerim will mostly be elves or surface dwarves; Danu will mostly be Fae or elves that have moved there."
"That's a solid plan – though nobles will be less likely to go there if you hire elves…" Aveline sighed.
"Not so – with the Rose and the De Launcets' being major contributors in Kirkwall, the nobles will flock to my shops. Danu is already seeing preorders and the palace isn't even a quarter build so I've allowed Lady Iris – the woman keeping my store room – to begin sales from the stock they make for me. Denerim is already familiar with my work so I already have people clamoring for it – hence why Alistair is looking into shops at all. It's novel enough to take the world by storm with the unique décor and stock alone. I think I'll leave my workers here at the house to pick out 2 elves for each of the four shops and then I'll bug Lirene for an equal number of refugees – making 16 employees through the four shops plus the managers. If demand is great enough, I'll hire more Fae to make stock and more workers for the shops as needed. With how things are priced, I plan to pay 4 Sovereign for 5 days of work each week with one bottle of soap, and a tin of tea – their choice – each month. And I also plan to provide meals for lunches during their shifts through the Kitchen I had built in the shared basement since I also put the join employee break and locker room there…"
I was rambling. Leandra chuckled, "With 4 sovereigns for only 5 days of work each week, you will be the best paying job that elves or refugees can get… ever. Most minor nobles don't pay that much to their best paid servants. You'll be popular with both the nobility and the commons."
"That's the plan, actually – these people need a way to break free from the confines of poverty; my shops will be popular enough to pay that. It will also ensure loyalty of my workers that I never looked down on them and paid them fairly from the start."
Varric lifted his glass to me, "I'll do marketing if you like."
"Don't you already?" I asked drily. He smirked, "Yeah – I do."
"Then why offer? Anyway, I should have everything ready in all three cities before the expedition so that I can host the opening after the expedition. Speaking of that – Hawke is investing 50; I said I would double that didn't I?"
Varric tilted his head, "I don't recall you actually saying it – just a vague mention…"
I tossed him a sack with 50 gold coins in it. He chuckled, "Chuckles hasn't even come up with his share yet, Feathers."
"Call him something else – that nickname belongs to someone else in 10 years ish; as cited by you. Find a new name."
Varric blinked, "I never give the same name twice…"
"Uh-huh, but Chuckles suits that elf better than Hawke… you have no idea. You start calling him Chuckles and when I ask you about the 'renaming' thing, you tell me that it suits him better than it ever suited Hawke. So…"
I had used the information from a vision I had a few nights ago. Varric sighed, "Good to know, I guess. I'll put this away to give to Bartrand when Hawke gets his amount together."
Hawke sniggered, "You said we had a week, right?"
I hummed, "Yeah – why?"
"Not much – I just promised mom that I would help her with something."
I nodded and we headed to bed not long after.
That week saw me busting ass to get things ready and talking to Lirene and my people to get 16 employees for when I was ready to open. I was getting close – I may open before going into the deep roads.
Lirene had been happy enough to look for 8 refugees to work my shops; my people had found 8 people in one day!
Today we were visiting Merrill; I wanted to discuss the lowered crime rate here since I had taken in so many workers – 13 elves worked for me as well as 8 refugees; apparently, this lowered the crime rate since no one wanted to risk their chances of getting hired by me. I only hired good people.
As we were leaving, I saw Ser Thrask speaking with Arianni. She was 5'5 with her soft red hair in a bun, and her blue eyes looked worried. She wore the Vallaslin of Sylaise, and her skin was a deep tan. Thrask, in comparison, was 5'8, with reddish brown hair and a goatee, he also had blue eyes but his skin was pale.
We had Hawke, Carver, Fenris, Isabela, Varric and I standing outside of Merrills' place.
"The Templars cannot tolerate Apostates." Thrask spoke in a deep and soothing voice.
"This will be mother if we're not careful…" Carver said softly.
"It sounds like your son is in trouble, is there anything I can do?" Hawke asked. Fenris gave me a look, lifting his eyebrow so while Hawke spoke to Arianni I leaned to Fenris. "Her son is not dangerous… he is powerful, however. A rare type of Mage called a Dreamer. We will be sending him to the Dalish so that we are better able to save him in a few years. You will not agree with what will ultimately become of him, but I swear to you, I will send him to the one house in Tevinter I know refuses to use blood magic. The son of that particular Magister will be a friend of mine in the years to come. I ask that you trust me in this, but I will understand if you cannot."
Fenris was thoughtful as Arianni turned to me, "One of the People?"
"The Sabre Clan happens to have need of a new first, Arianni. Merrill has left the clan, and Marethari will take Feynriel if you're agreeable?"
"If you can find him… please, I would do anything to keep my son safe!" I clapped her on the shoulder. "We will search, Arianni; Mala suledin nadas. Endure for Feynriel, for we will find him."
"Ma Serannas, Da'len." Arianni embraced me, and we headed off toward the market.
"You didn't correct her…" Varric said.
"I know – and this is how the Fae lie; we allow people to make assumptions and bend the truth until it snaps all on its own." I winked. "Besides – I am Dalish in a way; I was adopted into the Ellwood Clan when I received my Vallaslin at the behest of Flemeth. Did you know that Vallaslin started out as Slave marks? I only allowed it, because I know that Mythal has her reasons. So far, it has done nothing but help me, and she hasn't tried to take advantage of it. Besides, I know how to remove it, when I am ready." Fenris had looked pissed at the mention that they were slave marks.
"So the Dalish willingly mark their faces as slaves?" Fenris spat.
"No. The Dalish have lost much of the knowledge they once held. They do not remember that the marks were once symbols of Slavery. Those that try to tell them are generally chased away. To them, they are no longer slave marks, but worship marks."
Fenris shook his head, furious. "You let yourself be marked… why?"
"Like I said, Flemeth arranged it. Despite the fact that I did cut off her head once, I do trust her. She will be nothing but helpful. She will aid in the saving of Thedas in a few years. Without her, the world would fall. Likely she knows I will have it removed by her… friend, around that time too. This, these marks; they were not made with her blood like the marks of old. I am safe enough for the time being."
He grunted as we approached Vincento in the market.
"Greetings, Serah, you look like a man who'd be interested in the finest Antivan Steel to grace his hand. I only bring the finest northern merchandise to the Free Marches."
"Nice try, sweetie; I have a friend in the Crows who taught me quite a bit… that is a knock-off blade. This is the real thing." I pulled out my White Steel Dagger much to Vincentos dismay.
"Well, if you are not here to shop, what can I do for you?"
"I'm interested in your son," Hawke said.
He paled slightly, "Son? I've never had the privilege, Serah. My poor wife, she is back in Antiva, and cannot see me often with my travels… let us not ruin the day with such weighty thoughts; perhaps I could show you my silks?"
I giggled and allowed my eyes to glow as I held out my hand, allowing a blue light to form into a woman and a man dancing on my palm. Hawke gave me a smile. "As you see, we are not Templars, Serah. Feynriel has nothing to fear from us."
Vincento looked relieved, "Maldicion! You are a Mage! I suppose you'd be kind then, to a boy who resists being taken by the Templars?"
"Oh, sure… like he's family," Carver said. I giggled.
"Don't worry, sweet; we only want to help him. I've guaranteed his stay with the Dalish," I winked as Vincento relaxed.
"The boy's in over his head, so I sent him to the only man I know who doesn't despise mages. A former Templar named Samson."
"I know him! He hangs out in Lowtown after dark… but if someone doesn't pay for his help, he directs them elsewhere…"
The merchant paled. "What? Please, my son had no money… you must find him!"
"Of course we will, Serah."
My guard of the day – Galaxia – gave me a confused glance, but still said nothing.
That night, we were strolling through Lowtown – and I was actually having fun flirting with Fenris.
"No, no – I'm telling you, emerald studs in your earlobes and maybe a dangle on at least one tip… that would be so hot. Bela – don't you agree?"
"Now that you mention it, I can actually see how emeralds would suit him quite well like that. Hmm… is that the color Fenris?" she teased.
He snorted, "No."
I grinned – no way was I going to tell the pirate that he didn't wear small clothes – apparently they chafed and caught on his armor. "Fenris – let us pierce at least one lobe?"
"… Why do you insist?" he asked, looking serious.
"I don't know – but if you seriously don't want it, then say so; I'll drop it and never mention it again. I just think it'd look sexy."
"I'll think about it – but I make no promises," he said.
Anders looked disgusted, but Varric said, "You know Broody – I don't think you'd do it; it just doesn't seem like you."
Hawke nodded seriously, "I mean – I can see him having one for a mysterious and deep reason; but because his mate asked? Nah – I can't see that. What color should I get though?"
"Too easy – Red suits you far too well for it to be any other color," I answered with a snort.
Bela nodded, "Red or black… maybe grey?"
"Sunset in winter," I added.
"Oooh – you're right; sunset in winter," Xia chimed in.
Fenris spoke, "You really think green would suit me?"
"Green, Black, light blue or white; but for earrings, white would clash with your hair because no one would notice then, light blue is the same with your markings when they glow… black or green – for sure. You might get away with grey or sapphire – maybe sapphire – but I can't see you wearing pink, yellow or orange at all. Now me; I look damn good in orange – so long as it's an accent and not the main color. People like me need to wear winter colors – white, grey, black, burnt orange and brown; I look okay in pink, because of my hair, but I shouldn't wear it too often. Golds and silvers are good too – but if I wear copper, I'll look a bit washed out. Purple is best for me – it just works, you know? Bela looks good in anything – with boobs and a waist like that, she could make a potato sack look good. Hawke is also fairly handsome and could make other colors work, but blacks, slivers and reds look best for him. Then there's Anders – he looks best in browns and yellows; autumn colors. I don't know his birthday, but if I had to guess, he was born in autumn while the rest of us were born in winter."
Bela chuckled, "I was born in spring – and you told us that Fenris was born in summer."
"Uh-huh… spring, you say?" Hawke asked lightly.
"Yes, actually – I distinctly recall flowers and trees blooming the first time I got legally drunk." She gave him a charming smile. I chuckled, "I love you all; all of you."
Hawke laughed, "We love you too, you know."
I spotted Samson – he was 5'10 with messy brown hair and green eyes. He looked filthy and worn down; he was obviously withdrawal-ridden.
He spoke when he spotted us, "Vincento said someone might come sniffing around. You're looking for the boy, right; Feyn… something? I'll tell you now, there's not much I can do for you."
"I take it you met him?" Hawke asked.
"Afraid so… Blighter was dead broke, though, not a silver on him. I help one mageling for free and I'll never get paid again."
"I pity any mage who is forced to rely on you for protection!" Anders spat.
"I pointed him to a ship captain I know, Rainer… sometimes he'll take on runaways. Took another apostate, a girl, I sent him last week. Might have gone wrong though… I heard a rumor he took the both of them captive instead. Heard he has the two of them locked up in a quays warehouse; somewhere close to dockside. You want to go looking; you might find the lad before he gets ransomed to the Templars… or worse."
Before anyone else could say anything, I held out three pouches of Lyrium and said, "When you need more – come to the House of Archon in Hightown. Cullen is mine – I know what you're going through because… he went through it at one point too. I can't stand to see this – the Chantry addicts you and then discards you when you outlive your usefulness… I won't ask for anything in return."
He looked at me like I was a goddess and said, "Cullen… went through this?"
"When Kinlock fell – he doesn't even realize it was Withdrawal because he was tortured too. But that proved he can kick the habit if he desired to take that route."
"He's a stronger man than I am – I can feel my mind crumbling when I can't get a dose in time. Thank you for this… can I know your name?"
"Arvaala Cousland – Ara."
He chuckled, "I heard of you – Cullen never shut up in all that time we shared a room. Depressed blighter couldn't fathom you being King Alistairs' mistress when you 'deserved more; deserved marriage – a full family' he said. I think I know more about his feelings for you than he does at this point."
I flushed, "It's good to know – thank you."
We headed off as I pondered what Samson had told me. I sighed once we were well away, "One day, that man will be my greatest enemy; but I can't leave a man to suffer…"
Anders looked confused, "Your greatest enemy?"
"One of them, yes – he and the man he will eventually serve," I nodded.
We reached the docks and fought our way toward the back. 15 pirates were all we encountered… until we reached the back room.
"Please! Help me… anyone…" a woman cried and I bolted to the back… I didn't make it. Just as I opened the door I saw a feminine figure slump to the ground before turning into an abomination. I felt a tear slip from my eye.
Nothing could prepare you for it; not even having seen it before. One moment, a person is standing there, and the next… a horrid, ugly lump of purple flesh and the smell of rot.
I looked to the ship captain, Rainer. He was 5'7 with black hair, beard and green eyes. He was a little pudgy and his face was messed up from years of blade fights.
When the fight was over, I was kneeling over Olivia Thrask, searching the ripped pockets for the note I knew was in one of them. "What are you doing?" Anders asked softly.
I found it and pulled it from the chest pocket. "It's a note to her Templar father. He… he deserves to know."
"Her father was…" Hawke started. "Ser Thrask. This was Olivia; his only child."
"I found a note, Hawke. Looks like our next stop is Dark Town to look for someone named… Danzig," Varric called out.
We headed out at once.
It was dawn by the time we reached that area of Dark Town… and Danzig was repulsive.
At 5'7 he was sickly pale, with a freaking Hitler mustache, and green eyes. He wore robes and a hat that made it obvious he was a Mage.
"Why… look here, boys; Volunteers! Clap 'em in Irons and let's see what the Tevinters will pay for them… specially this one here," He pointed to me, "I don't want any scratches on her." I heard Fenris growl from beside me.
Why did he want to take me specifically?
Hawke smirked and looked at Fenris. "Make him talk."
"With pleasure," Fenris snarled and shoved his hand through Danzig's chest. The mage coughed and wheezed as Fenris put pressure on the man's heart.
When Fenris removed his hand, Danzig groaned. "Andraste's great flaming ass; How did you do that? Never mind; I've stashed the boy in a cave; a smuggler hideout on the wounded coast; Tevinters will be by to finish the deal later today. C-can I go?"
A frown made its way onto my face as I looked away. "Sure! Oh wait… I meant no," Hawke smirked as Fenris tore the man's heart clean out of his chest. I used my throwing stars while the other slavers were distracted.
When it was over, I was heaving in a corner; so much death…
"Are you alright?" Fenris asked me.
I nodded as I moved to my feet shakily, "I-I'm fine, love. I've been through worse than the threat of slavery, as you know…"
I was surprised when he pulled me into a hug; and I think I saw Hawke and Anders looking stunned too.
Varric smirked at me and I stuck out my tongue. Hawke found a paper, "This is convenient – a map with directions to cave they took Feynriel to! I suppose we should get going if we're going to save the boy at all."
Fenris – to my happy surprise – didn't pull away immediately. And he helped me to bury the bastards that had just tried to kill us. He didn't say anything while we did that – just made sure to stand as close to me as possible; comforting me in silence.
Galaxia sighed, "I… I shouldn't be asking this, My Queen – but what are the consequences of you… not burying these people?"
"I… I suppose nothing, really – I just really need to make amends for cutting their lives short. And the only reason I wouldn't need to bury these people would be because it was their time; they were marked for death. If I hadn't helped kill them – if they had lived – then innocents would have died in their place. Hawke was always meant to kill these people; in this time and in this place. Some people can live or die with no ill effects to the timeline – Carver, Bethany, and a few others. If they're good people, then I see no reason not to save them if I can."
"Didn't saving Bethany kill your unborn child?" Anders pointed out. I shot him a nasty glare as we began walking toward the city gates, "Technically – but I checked the timeline, Anders; my child would have been stillborn anyway. All saving Bethany did was save me the grief of my child being born dead."
Hawke flinched, "Yeah – that… mother had a stillborn after Bethany and Carver were born; she didn't eat more than a slice of bread at a time for a month. The miscarriages before having the twins never hit her that hard according dad."
"It has to do with the bonding aspect – if I had learned I was with child beforehand and carried that child for the whole 9 months… I would have had dreams and names picked out and gotten excited. I would have had hope for that child; I would have loved that baby so much by then that losing it would have devastated me. But I didn't know until it was gone; the way the news was broken helped too – I didn't feel even a flittering of hope because I knew the child was gone at the same time I learned I had been pregnant. No – if I had known about that child; if I had gotten my hopes up… I might not have been nearly as much help in ending the Blight at all."
Fenris spoke, "I… it is like I can feel your sorrow as we speak of this topic, Ara."
"Well – it's a very deeply personal and painful topic. I love kids – and I want several. Right now, I only have one god-daughter and one adopted daughter. But one is full grown and one isn't mine. So what am I supposed to feel about a lost child?"
Galaxia spoke, "As you grow closer to your mates, you begin to form a bond or connection with them. I'm sure you noticed your connection to Alistair?"
I nodded, "I just thought… I mean, Alex and I were close enough to generally sense each other's mood even without my Empathy – and we even finished each other's sentences on occation. I thought it was just like that…"
She smiled, "Somewhat, yes. But on a deeper level."
I chuckled as we walked.
At the wounded coast, we swiftly got to the slavers cave. 47 slavers by my count.
"Take one more step, and the boy dies," The man said… how predictable!
Hawke looked at Varric while I shot a smile at Feynriel. "Tell this dirt bag who we are," Hawke gave off a menacing aura.
"If I were you, I wouldn't be threatening the Viscount's boy." Varric gave an uncaring shrug.
"What?" The red-haired villain looked suddenly afraid.
"Oh, I suppose you just got a tip from a slaver that he was selling mage-flesh cheap? You never thought to ask where he got it. You never wondered if you were buying the Viscounts well known love child from his elven mistress; the boy he swore to protect even if it meant razing the Free Marches to the ground."
As Varric spoke, the slaver slowly lowered his sword. "I seek no war with the Free Marches… take the lad to his father."
I did something I had heard Celeste do once; infusing my voice with a lyrical undertone as I spoke, "Give him here, then."
The man looked at me with red cheeks – likely thinking he was hearing things and thus thought I was sent by the maker himself – and nudged Feynriel, who came over to me. "Now, time to die," Hawke smirked as he pulled his staff. I cast a shield around Feynriel and myself. Feynriel was 5'4 – really was anyone shorter than me? – With gold eyes, blond hair and pointed ears… well mostly pointed. I knew Alistairs had been cut when he was a child; Eamons doing. I only knew that because I saw the scars and had a damn vision to match.
When the fight was over, Feynriel looked to Hawke.
"Who are you? Are you working for the Templars?" Feynriel was obviously scared but masked it well with his anger.
"Your mother sent me," Hawke lifted an eyebrow.
"Hmmph. Hardly a difference. I can't believe her. My whole life it was 'I'll love and protect you', then I have a few bad dreams and it's, 'off to the Templars'!"
"Feynriel, look at me. We are here to help you. You saw our magics, you see my Vallaslin… the Dalish will accept you," I said allowing my Vallaslin to glow and sparkle.
His eyes widened. "The Keeper doesn't hate humans?"
I snorted, "Not at all. Marethari is a sweetheart… most of the time. She'll take you in with my approval, hun."
"You don't know what a relief that is… I knew she could help me. Thank the Creators that you're the ones my mother hired. I will forever be in your debt, friends."
We ended up escorting Feynriel to the Dalish. He had stuck with me the whole damn way, because of my Vallaslin.
"I can't thank you enough!" Feynriel gushed as we approached the camp. "Think nothing of it; the Dalish would not see the son of one of their own suffer alone."
We got into the camp without being stopped.
"Aneth Ara, Keeper. I bring you the son of Arianni; he has need of your help and training. He is Somniari; a Dreamer. For the moment, he needs you. When it is time, seek us out once more; you will know when." She looked startled as the clan surrounded us.
"Ma Nuvenin, Da'len; I will teach him to the best of my abilities." I smiled and gave Feynriel a hug. "Creators be with you, Da'len," I whispered in his ear and he hugged me back. I also let Ilen know that the Ironbark Grove was cleared out.
As we made our way back down the Mount, we chose to take care of the Tal-Vashoth… it was on our way and we were well equipped anyway.
And after that, when we made camp, Fenris approached me in my room – since he now shared with me while we were out of the city; though I still kept his room around just in case.
"I… er… the ear piercing thing – did you mean…?"
"I think it would look hot on you – but you really don't need to do anything if you don't want to; you know that."
He chuckled, "I know – but it was something I had once considered… a year or two ago, when I was with the Fog Warriors, as a way to show my freedom from Denarius. I just… never knew how to go about it and it seemed a waste of money."
I chuckled, "Well – I'll get Bela. I can't do piercings – I never have so I don't trust myself to do it for you."
His face twisted for only a second but it was enough for me to laugh, "Come on – she's completely professional while she works; at least… for what I'm used to from piercing specialists. Look, if you don't want then we won't."
He shook his head, "Get the pirate – I will… behave myself."
I chuckled and popped my head out my door, "Bela – I need your help with something… I have Antivan Brandy."
She skipped over, "What's up, Ara?"
"Fenris needs a piercing – can you get his ears without making him too uncomfortable? A whole bottle of Antivan Brandy says you'll do it."
"For good alcohol, I'll do it like a professional with no troubles Kitty – the Hanged Man mostly just has whisky flavored with rat droppings."
I laughed and held up the diamond shaped bottle I had bought in Kirkwall last week – I had been saving it for my grand opening, but if I wanted to get people drunk I could just bring out Bird Dog from Earth; that stuff would… assist you in forgetting your week.
And yeah – green studs in his lobes and a dangle from the left tip was… really hot on Fenris… now to get him rocker leathers.
