Our Ghosts Are The Same
Dragon Age 2
Chapter 17: Tracking
A/N: If you'd like to know why this took so long, just blame the Navy.
Cousland waited for Hawke, waited up until the point that Bodahn and Oriana began to whisper and make jests he didn't want to listen to, before he stormed out of her household and headed for the de Launcet's place. It had become rather apparent that the Champion was occupied elsewhere and would not be coming home any time soon.
Her outburst and sudden flight had surprised him and Bodahn himself could not explain what had just happened or where Hawke had gone to. Following her, of course, had come to mind, though Cousland could sense that, whatever the blazes this was, it was personal.
So instead of tracking down Kirkwall's wayward Champion, Cousland returned to the Comtessa and found that she too had been stuck waiting today.
Waiting on him.
Waiting with several young noble ladies, all of the age to marry.
It wasn't looking good for him.
He found it shocking how entertaining it was to act like a gossipy bitch for a day.
The Comtessa had, under Arl Eamon's damn orders, invited what Aedan had assumed to be half of Kirkwall's nobility. All for his benefit. The whole affair was ridiculous. Was he really expected to just pick one of them, basing his choice solely on a little chat over tea and biscuits.
The Comtessa led them in one at a time, gave them a cup and simply let them ramble on. Once she felt the girl had been given enough time, the Comtessa had her servants take her outside so the Comtessa could explain to Aedan what had been wrong with this one.
"Too outspoken."
"I did not know that was a vice?"
"Too many ruffles."
"Oh, that one I agree with," Aedan muttered before he straightened up in shame. "Maker, we shouldn't be speaking of them this way. I'm sure these ladies have some sort of emotions. From the way they've been treating your servants I sort of doubt it, but there is always a possibility."
The Comtessa pursed her lips. "They are the best I could do at such sort notice. Eamon said this was an emergency." Aedan snorted in response. "I personally had thought you were trying to woo our Champion-"
"Woo?" he repeated in disbelief. "Who said anything about wooing?"
"Were you not in her company all last night and this morning? The servants have been talking about little else."
Were they? "I am not trying to woo the Champion," he finally stated slowly, as if she were a child.
"Does that mean you've already succeeded?"
"I'm not trying to succeed-"
"I don't understand."
The urge to use every blasphemous phrase Zevran had ever taught him rose exceptionally at that moment. Instead, Aedan waved to the servants to bring another possible future bride into the drawing room, Maker help him.
It isn't until dinner that the Comtessa decides that none of the brides were suitable for the Warden. Aedan's pleased until she announces that just means they'll have to try again the following day.
Despite himself, Aedan found a few of the women charming enough that he didn't loathe the idea of marrying them. Feeling slightly guilty about it (he has to admit to himself that he's not exactly good husband material—he's too secretive, too competitive, and far too absorbed in his work), Aedan invites a few prospective brides to the Keep. He knows they find it odd to be invited there and not his actual home in Highever, though none of them protest.
He swore he was going to kick Eamon's arse next time they meet.
Honestly, though, Eamon's going to be feeling the same; Aedan had failed to procure the Champion as a spy for Ferelden. He was not looking forward to explaining that.
Aedan began immediate plans to head back to Ferelden.
There's a sea of maroon amour, and in the midst of it, Hawke, standing tall and determined and surprisingly not cowering under the piercing gaze of her ginger guard friend.
Aveline used a phrase she often used on Hawke, "You can't do this."
"No," Hawke countered boldly, calmly. "I can."
The Guards-Captain looked taken aback for a moment, not recognizing this new authoritative tone Hawke was using. This was different. Something was wrong. Usually a stern talking to was all it took to get Hawke to do what Aveline wanted-no, needed to be done.
Aveline tried again. "Hawke, you can't be running around Kirkwall with an bloody army-"
"Why not?" Hawke made a show of glancing at her nails and ignoring the crowd of people gathering to watch the Captain of the Guard and their champion duke it out.
Aveline shifted, uncomfortable with their audience. Why wasn't that obvious? That should have been obvious. "Because you're scaring people."
"She's right." A templar stepped away from the crowd making Aveline scowl and wish she had approached Hawke about inside the Keep rather than out on the open where wandering templar-captains could eavesdrop.
"Knight-Captain Cullen," Aveline nodded politely, if a bit forced.
"Cullen," Hawke mock saluted him. "Nice of you to stop by but can't you see that the Guard-Captain and I are having a public lover's spat?"
"Don't."
"Everyone can see that," Cullen retorted and Hawke realized she had never seen him smile. "Which is why I am here, Serah Hawke. Knight-Commander Meredith has overheard rumors that the Champion has been combing through Kirkwall with her own private army. You see why this would concern her, don't you?"
Hawke didn't see why Cullen asked her questions he didn't want an answer to. "Yes, yes," she drawled, "can't have two crazy bitches with their own armies. There's not enough room in Kirkwall." Neither Aveline nor Cullen laughed at that, but her borrowed army did. If one thing could be said for Meeran, he knew how to pick men and women with a good sense of humor.
Cullen cut right to it. "The Knight-Commander would like to speak with you."
"Of course she would," Aveline glared pointedly in Hawke's direction, as if this was all her fault. And it was.
Cullen asked Hawke that her men stay outside of the Gallows and after complaining loudly she agreed. Aveline insisted on accompanying them, probably there to keep Hawke from setting things on fire. And also "mother" her.
"Did you not see this coming?"
"I don't see a lot of the things that happen to me coming." Meredith had them waiting outside her office and Hawke was getting twitchy. She could only hope the men she was renting from Meeran would track down this wannabe necromancer. Oh, that reminded her. Hawke leaned over to Aveline and whispered in mock cheer, "By the way, I may have promised Meeran the estate in exchange for my little army, so..."
"HAWKE!"
Meredith's door swung open and a very frustrated Orsino stormed out. "Looks like the First Enchanter warmed her up for us," Hawke beamed despite everything and stepped inside the office. Even with Aveline there she was probably going to have to set something aflame in the Knight-Commander's presence anyway, just on principle.
Hawke put on her best fake smile, which was the same as her normal smile, and greeted the templar with a cheery, "Good morning, Knight-Commander."
Meredith's Tranquil assistant felt the need to point out, "Serah Hawke, it's only midday."
"Huh. I thought it felt early."
"Stop talking. Listen." Meredith had never been one for idle chitchat. "Tell me about the band of mercenaries you've hired. And let me be clear, this is the band of mercs you hired from that Red Iron bastard, Meeran, and not the band of misfits you usually run around with."
"These ones," Hawke clarified pointedly as Aveline whispered to her not to say anything stupid, "I've hired for a private vendetta." Hawke could tell by Aveline's long sigh that that was something stupid.
Meredith nodded as if that was what she had expected. "Champion, I don't think I have to tell you way I can't have you running around-"
No point in trying to hide it. Hawke interrupted her with, "I'm hunting down a very dangerous blood mage. And I plan to kill him. "
"Well, that's the first time Meredith and I have ever agreed on something."
"Do you even hear yourself?" Aveline demanded, leading the way out of the Gallows.
"Meredith gave me permission to continue on with my good work," Hawke countered, jogging to keep up with Aveline's pace. "Provided my "army" is disbanded right after I apprehend Gascard."
"I didn't think you planned on simply apprehending him."
"I don't."
"He's not the one who-"
"Killed my mother?" Hawke asked quietly. "No, he's not, but he sent me a message. And I'm not waiting around for him to try something before I act."
"That's not how the law works."
"You're the law. I'm the comic relief. That's how it's always been."
"I think one of us may have changed since they had their little dance with the Arishok. It may have happened even before then." Aveline had stopped walking. She was turned around and squinting at her friend. "I don't know why I haven't seen it before now. Perhaps I thought you were still in shock."
This topic of conversation was making her nervous. What was Aveline getting at? "I think you're over thinking things. You do tend to do that."
"Can I ask you something, Hawke?"
"Can I stop you?"
"Why are you using Meeran's men for this and not your friends?"
The words were out before Hawke could stop them. "There's no pay in a job like this."
"Hawke, you don't mean that." There was anger there and hurt and it made Hawke feel like a jackass.
She tried to take it back, "I was joking."
And as unfair as she knew it was, there was a small part of her that wasn't.
Hawke's new crew caught back up with them on their way back to the Keep. After convincing Aveline to go back to the Keep without her, Hawke asked for a report. "I thought I asked you to wait outside the Gallows? And where are the rest of you?" Out of the originally twenty-seven men Meeran had given her she now was down to a grand total of two.
The smallest one, Tom or William or something, spoke up first. "We received a tip about Dupuis. The rest went off to check it out. We thought-"
"Where is he now?"
Tom/William/Something flashed her a grin. "The rest of the crew is chasing him through Hightown as we speak. Care to join us?"
"Oh, yes."