Chapter 14: A Tour of Kirkwall

Lowtown

It was a normal day over at the Hawke residence, Ericks was the only one in the house. Leandra and Bethany were out in the markets shopping, while Gamlen was at the Hanged Man meeting with some 'business partners'. He put on the last of his gear and headed out towards Merrill's house. Ericks told Varric of their new elven friend predicament and he's been hiring people to keep watch over Merrill while she got her bearings. Ericks made it to the Alienage where he received various stares, a lot of them not very friendly. Humans and elves had a long and bloody history in Thedas. After the fall of Arlathan, elves were enslaved by the Tevinter Imperium who ruled all of Thedas at the time. According to the Chantry, Andraste allied with the elves and rebelled against the Imperium and pushed them back.

After the defeat of the Imperium, the elves were given a homeland in recognition for their actions, the Dales. But hundreds of years later, Red Crossing happened, a human village was destroyed by the elves of the Dales. Due to this, the Chantry started an Exalted March against the Dales, utterly destroying it. From there the elves were split in two as a people, the city elves lived in human cities among their own kind in alienages as second class citizens and the Dalish elves nomads trying to reclaim what they lost. Ericks knocked on the door.

The door opened. "Ericks, I didn't think you'd come!" Merrill said. "I'll find something relatively clean for you to sit on" She pulled out a dusty old chair and wiped off the dirt, she sneezed when it reached her nose. "Can I get you something to eat or drink? I have…water"

While Merrill went to get water, Ericks looked around. As bad as Gamlen's place was, it was paradise compared to Merrill's place. It was broken down, with several holes in the roof and walls. He could hear dripping water and the squeaking of rats. "It's…cozy. And your furry friends are charming"

Merrill came back with glasses of water. "Oh, are the rats back? I thought I found all the holes" she said. "I wanted to thank you for bringing me here, but I'm making a mess of it"

"Has anyone ever told you fuss too much? You're doing fine, Merrill"

"I'm not, really. If good wishes were enough, everyone in Thedas would be happy" she said. "I haven't had many friends, not even among my own clan. This is tricky"

"What made you unpopular with the Dalish?" Ericks asked.

"Being First to the Keeper, I was always…a bit secluded" Merrill said. "I studied magic and history while other were learning the Vir'Tanadhal"

"It's good that I left, I'd have made a terrible Keeper…I was never good with people"

"It's never too late to start" Ericks said offering her his hand. "How about I show you around Kirkwall?" The elf took it and they went off to see all that Kirkwall has to offer. The sights were fascinating to Merrill including one man who got mugged right in front of them. Everything in the city seemed to happen all at once; the elf wondered how the people of the city keep it all together. They went to Hightown and Merrill was in awe of all the tall buildings and nice houses. As the elf was admiring what she was seeing, Ericks saw some Templars coming and without warning pulled Merrill into an alley. The elf blushed when she saw how close Ericks and her were. "Okay, maybe showing you Hightown wasn't the best idea" he said. "Sorry for the scare"

"Um, it's alright…you were looking out for me" They finished up their time in Hightown and went to other places in Kirkwall. As they were walking, Merrill noticed Ericks' tattoos…they looked very similar to the vallaslin that her people wore. "The markings on your face, they look different from what some of the other humans have"

"They're Chasind tattoos; my brother and I were given them as a rite of passage in their tribe"

Merrill tilted her head. "Chasind?"

"They're a human tribe in Ferelden, they're a little like the Dalish" Ericks said. "My father bargained with a tribe near Lothering, since dealing with them didn't come with a risk of Templars finding out about our family" Over the years, Malcolm grew close with the tribe and befriended their chieftain. It was their warriors that taught Ericks and Carver how to fight. The Chasind hunters taught Ericks how to make different poisons and tonics. Of course Leandra didn't like it, due to believing the Chasind to be savages but relented because their skills helped their family a lot. When the brothers were fifteen, they received their tattoos which made them full members of the tribe even though they didn't live with them.

"Carver and I was with the Chasind warriors at Ostagar, the darkspawn overran us and tore apart our men. One of those men was our teacher" Ericks said. "We…barely escaped with our lives but it wasn't long before the darkspawn reached Lothering, my father stayed behind so the rest of us could escape"

"And then we lost my brother, on the way here" Merrill went quiet and lowered her head; it seemed everyone lost something to the darkspawn in Ferelden.

"I'm sorry…"

"Ah well…what can you do?" Erick said. "You miss the Dalish?" Merrill sighed, she was heartsick for them. The elf missed Hahren Paivel's stories and the creaking of the aravels in the breeze.

"The city is so busy and confusing and the elves here are not like my clan but I'll get used to Kirkwall in time"

Ericks smirked. "Think of it as a game! You can pick up the entire things people drop and overlook, maybe count them"

Merrill laughs. "I think they mostly drop garbage" she said. "Thank you for this, I needed someone to talk to" Ericks and Merrill headed back to the alienage, where they found one of the elves talk to a Templar. The two of them hid around the corner.

"Crap, did they find out about you already?"

"They shouldn't, I've been careful…even among the Dalish, keepers never work magic in public" Merrill said. "What are they talking about, I wonder?" Ericks looked over the corner, the woman looked distressed but it didn't sound like they were talking about Merrill.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Mistress but I can offer your son mercy only if he turns himself in"

"I'm trying to find him, but…"

"The Templars cannot tolerate apostates" The Templar was coming their way and Ericks grabbed Merrill's hand. The elf's face turned red.

"He's coming, play along" The Templar came up the stairs and saw Ericks and Merrill in a loving embrace giggling like young children. The Templar just shook his head; he had better things to do than worry about people being shameless in public. The Templar walked away. "Whew…thought he'd never leave" Ericks said. "You doing alright, Merrill?"

"Um…y..yes" the elf said blushing. She then regained her composure and looked past the corner. "Poor woman, she's crying…we should do something"

"That's a bad idea, getting involved with the Templars will more than likely paint a target on your back" Merrill then looked at Ericks with pleading, puppy dog eyes…Ericks just sighed. "Damnit, fine" Ericks and Merrill came to the crying woman and the rogue offered her his hand. She took it and was pulled off the ground. The elven woman had markings on her face; she was Dalish just like Merrill.

"Ma serannas, human"

"I'm guessing that Templar wasn't here to offer your son his good wishes?" The woman looked at Ericks shocked. "I…uh, overheard"

"Maybe we could be of some help, falon" The woman was reluctant at first but then she started to open up. Her name was Arianni and she was worried about her son, Feynriel. He was the only family she had left and when Arianni learn that her son had magic she could not bear to send him to the Circle. Ericks nodded in understanding.

"But his connection to the Fade…it gives him nightmares, dreams of demons speaking in his mind" Arianni said tearfully. "I would rather lose him to the Circle than to himself"

"Did he run away?" Ericks asked. She nodded, the Templar she spoke to was a man called Ser Thrask. She contacted him about her son, when Feynriel found out he felt betrayed.

"He thinks he can live free of the Circle, but without proper training I'm afraid he'll kill himself"

"Your clan would be able to help your son, why aren't you with them?" Merrill asked.

"I came to Kirkwall for a time and…dallied with a human merchant, Vincento" she said. "When I found I was with child, neither Vincento nor my clan wished the burden of an elf-blooded human infant" Being elf-blooded carries great stigma in Thedas, as the subjugated status of elves is seen as a mark of shame on one's parentage. The potential cost to social status is such that some elf-blooded strive to conceal their parentage at all costs. Similarly, these individuals can be looked down upon by full-blooded elves. Indeed, it is considered better for an elf-blooded to be raised and live as a human, if possible, to enjoy the associated social advantages, than to be known to have an elven parent. "And so I raised Feynriel myself, here in the alienage"

"What kind of dreams is he having?" Merrill asked.

"He dreams of demons, calling to him, pulling him into their world. Every day it grows harder to wake him" Arianni said. "That is why I turned to the Circle; they are the only ones that can protect a mage from his own powers"

"Abominations are always so awkward at family reunions…" Ericks said.

The woman paled. "No! Please, you must find him before…before the demons finish their work. She said. "He must be brought to safety"

"Please if you won't do it for Feynriel, do it for Kirkwall. The Templars say a lad like my son is a danger to the whole city if left untrained"

"I'll bring your son back to safety. I promise" he said. "Have any idea where we can look?"

"No but there are two place you might start your search" the elf said. "Ser Thrask has been looking for him, he's more than likely in the Gallows, he might be able to tell you what ground he's covered"

"And…Feynriel's father, Vincento, recently returned from Antiva. He's a merchant in the Lowtown Bazaar; Feynriel might have sought him out"

"Do not worry, falon, we will find your son" Merrill said.

"Preferably before the Templars do, they tend to stab and ask questions later"

"Thank you, it has been a lonely time, hiding. It is almost a relief to finally confront this openly" Ericks and Merrill headed to the Lowtown Bazaar; it was more crowed than usual as people were trying to take advantage of the latest merchant sales. Ericks and Merrill headed for Vincento's booth where they spotted Leandra and Bethany shopping. They were talking to a man in blue and tan clothing with medium length brown hair.

"I can assure you madam; this belt is made from the finest Antivan leather" he said. "You will be the envy of all your friends"

"Hmm, in that case…I'll take it" Leandra said putting it on.

"Ah I can already feel the envy of every woman here"

"Brother, Merrill!" Bethany said waving at them.

"Greetings, serah. You look like a man who'd be interested in the finest Antivan steel to grace his hand" Vincento said. "I bring only the best northern merchandise to the Free Marches"

"Actually, I'm more interested in your son"

"Son? I have never had the privilege, serah" he said. "My poor wife, she is back in Antiva and cannot see me often with my travels" He gave a nervous laugh; it was obvious the very mention of Feynriel made him nervous. And why wouldn't it, he had a very good thing going in his shop and an elf-blooded son would ruin that. "Perhaps I could show you my silks…"

Ericks then crossed his arms. "Or perhaps you could stop trying to bullshit me and tell me where your son is"

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