"Um what are you doing?" Curious, Dorian questions the girl talking muttering to herself as she blinks, snapping out of her daze. Panicked, she turns to us, her grip tingeing around her blade and staff as we find ourselves in some sort of hut, our eyes widening at the rather small Eluvian before us, seemingly to have been patched up almost from the shard like jigsaw puzzle of the mirror behind us.
"Oh nothing." Innocently, the girl known as Daisy smiles at us.
"Did you hear that?" Sera questions scowling her grip tightening on her bow at the sight of the blade dripping ruby red.
"Not not really." Honestly, Daisy answers us.
"Why were you talking to yourself?" Solas queries making Daisy release a small noise of defeat glancing to the side sheepish.
"O-Oh sorry that must have looked freaky, scary even heh, sorry about that I didn't hear you come. Aneth ara. So, you must be the people Varric mentioned nice to meet you. I'm Merill, it's nice to meet you. Oh, I repeated myself, didn't I? I'm sorry, oh I'm so sorry I didn't ask your name, I was told it was a custom to tell them your name but then again Varric just said the inquisitor would be coming. Oh, should I bow? Hmm then again Fen and Isabella tell me not to tell them my name sometimes. I never know when the right time is to…" Panicked, Merrill rambles taking me aback and I thought I rambled, I see how Fen deals with me now.
"Wait…Fen?" Sera picks up her eyes narrowing.
"Hm yes." Merill confirms going silent making us frown.
"Do you know her?" Dorian prompts making her blink releasing a small oh.
"Do I know her? Fen and I are friends, we both quite a while back if I do say so myself oh then again I'm assuming, Fen hates it when I do that, I mean I assumed with her and that boy once and she went mental.." Nervously, Merill mutters mainly to herself scolding herself almost.
"Right so…Merill wait Merill as in the champion of Kirkwall's friend!" Amazed, I gasp remembering Varric's tale only snippets of her but…
"Oh, you mean Hawke yes, still what do you want with Fen?" Curious, Merill quirks her head to the side.
"We're looking for her we're concerned…" Calmly, Solas begins surprisingly.
"Concerned? Oh there's no need to be concerned, Fen can handle herself, she and I fought off an entire Qunari army. You can go back." Happily, Merill assures us making us frown.
"I'm sure but we're still her friends…" Peacefully, I begin.
"Oh really? Fen doesn't really have friends; I mean she does but she doesn't like calling them that nor does she like making them. She doesn't really like people, especially mages, oh I suggest you hide your staffs; she isn't a number one fan of magic." Quickly, she advises us.
"Yes, we know that…so curious question how did someone like you befriend Fen?" Fascinated, Dorian queries.
"Oh, it wasn't as hard as others would think…" Softly, Merill smiles.
"Is that right?" Blackwall mutters frowning.
"Oh yes when I first met her, she offered me some advice. I don't think she knows much on the elven bodies though…" Merill begins as they all take a seat at the table inside the hut.
"What do you mean?" Intrigued, I raise a brow.
"Well when I first met her she gave me some advice if I want to use blood magic the best place to cut would be my throat but then I had to explain to her that if I did I would be dead." Chuckling, Merill giggles at the memory unaware of the disturbed looks from both myself and Dorian. I even note Solas and Blackwall trying to hide their grimace at Merrill's story.
"What did she say?" Sera prompts eager for more, a sly smirk on her lips, enjoying the story.
"That's the point. I never got the point though I mean how could I sue my blood for magic if I am already dead you know?" Laughing, Merill giggles.
"Right…" Uneasily, Dorian trials off, the pair of us looking uneasily at one another.
"Then there was the time when she invited me down to the hanged man that was fun." Perkily, Merill smiles as we followed her outside, my eyes widening at the tall towering tree.
"What is that?" Gently, I whisper.
"A Vhenadahl…" Softly, Solas whispers confusing me when noting the pain in his tone.
"That's right the city elves adore the tree they say it's the last remnant of Arlathan." Smiling, Merill informs us as I furrow my brow, the last remnant, I didn't think even city elves would care for Arlathan considering they and the Dalish don't seem to get along well.
"So where is this hanged man?" Quickly, Blackwall changes topic much to Sera's relief.
"Oh I can show you if you well, Fen and I all of used to drink over there it was a second home for us. I remember when I first joined, she invited me to join her. She ordered this drink for me I had to try it due to being new in Kirkwall she insisted I drink it. It smelt very off though compared to Isabela and her drink, Isabela stopped her in the end I never got why. I mean sure it smelt a bit off but Fen paid for it, I felt really bad, she spent her money on nothing for me you know?" Sadly, Merill sighs at the memory.
"Yeah…nothing. You know I have to admit something." Dorian sighs whispering lowly to me as we follow her, noting the tired looking elves and humans, even some dwarfs looking tired, hurt, injured even, trying to get by.
"What is it Dorian?" Quietly, I whisper as we follow Merill.
"I am very grateful I hadn't met Fen before…" Honestly, Dorian confesses to me in a low voice as I note the fear etched behind his suave tone.
"You know Dorian as much as I used to imagine as a child me tagging along and befriended the champion of Kirkwall and her entourage, I have to agree with you…" Bluntly, I confess to him unnerved by Fen's methods of killing the poor girl.
"Oh no…be wary everyone as soon as we leave the alienage, troops will attack us," Warily, she warns us surprising us.
"Who are these guys?" Confused, Sera questions as we get into battle position as we leave the alienage finding ourselves outnumbered by some troops, noting the chantry symbol in their armour.
"Sebastian's troops be careful! I hope you know how to fight!"
"W-What was that!?" Horrified, Sera turns to glare sharply at Merill blinking taken aback by Sera strutting over, balled up hand raised to the meek Merill.
"What was what?" Innocently, Merill squeaks back.
"That….that was blood magic wasn't it?" Uneasily, I whisper glancing at Dorian who nods identifying it.
"Um yes? It's just magic. And it's my blood. There's nothing wrong with it." Frowning, Merill scowls.
"Right. So I've heard." Scowling, Blackwall glances to the side uncomfortable.
"Really? Most people point and call me an abomination when they find out." Surprised, Merill blinks.
"Well. Who am I to judge at this point?" Tiredly, Blackwall sighs glancing to the side once more as I feel my eyes soften, I let him go, he just…he needs to forgive himself.
"Thank you Blackwall. You're very kind." Gently, Merill thanks him.
"Don't change the topic! Back there, when we were fighting…" Angrily, Sera scowls at Merill.
"Oh! You're talking to me? Yes, what about it?" Taken aback, Merill turns to face Sera as Dorian and I glance uneasily at one another, worrying over a fight about to brew.
"That thing you did! That was blood magic! And that's just – it's weird. That's only because, with demons!" Frustrated, Sera accuses her pointing at her.
"It's perfectly safe. You must have know other mages." Casually, Merill argues.
"Yeah, but they were runnin' about with their heads up their arse talking to demons!" Scowling, Sera defends herself.
"Demons are just spirits. And there was only one of them, a long time ago. There's really no reason to make a fuss." Smiling, Merill points out.
"That make it worse! Maybe you're just, not even elfy, but a demon too…You're as bad as elfy, the only reason he doesn't do all that blood stuff is to see his fade girlfriend's, even though they aren't real and having nothing on Fen." Disgusted, Sera sneers glaring at the stoic silent Solas.
"It's really not dangerous you know. I'm not." Calmly Merrill begins as they head to the docks.
Not listening to you! La la la! I'm not listening!" Loudly, Sera cuts Merill off who scowls.
"Sera." Calmly, Merill begins only to be cut off by Sera's loud chanting.
"You're impossible to talk to!" Frustrated, Merill huffs giving up on her as she angrily storms off, the others following after her towards some sign with a hanged man.
"Good!" Smugly, Sera declares proudly at her supposed win unaware of the sly smirk on Solas.
"I thought you weren't listening?" Teasingly, Solas reminds her.
"Shit! Shut it, you." Angrily, Sera scowls at Solas smirking smugly at his surprising win.
"If I might ask, Merrill. Why did you begin learning blood magic?" Curious, Solas questions Merill after dealing with another group of troops.
"Are you going to say something about it being terrible, or stupid, or weak too? Because it doesn't matter what you think. It's my path to walk. No one else can tell me it's wrong." Snippily, Merill scowls at Solas.
"Not at all. It is a magic like any other. I was merely curious." Smoothly, Solas exclaims.
"Oh. I – well. Ma serannas." Apologetic, Merill bows her head.
"What I want to know is how a blood mage even befriended Fen back then?" Gawking, Dorian demands from Merill almost in awe of her.
"This coming from the vint…" Snidely, Sera huffs.
"Hey, I don't use blood magic!" Cheekily, Dorian defends himself.
"Is that right? I'm so sorry but um…please don't judge Fen she hasn't had a easy history especially with magic." Tenderly, Merill requests off the group surprising them at her genuine concern and care towards the elven slave, having killed thousands like Merill.
"You're defending her?" Amazed, I whisper, smiling softly impressed by her loyalty.
"Yes, Fennic and I are friends. She's always been kind to me in her own little way, Fen isn't used to…affection you could say so just know she means well." Sadly, Merill smiles.
"That's good and all but how did you even survive? I mean I'm surprised she didn't…" Dorian questions flabbergasted.
"Impale me with her hand like her brother or cut me down? I think Hawke held her back but…I mean Fen is my friend. Heh I remember when she told me about this thing when I first moved to Kirkwall if I go down to Darktown. I would find people like me there and I would have to offer myself and I would get a special surprise…" Solemnly, Merill sighs.
"A special surprise?" Unnerved, Sera and Blackwall glance at one another disgust laced in their tone.
"Yes, I never got to know what that was sadly by the time I did meet some mages like me and offered myself, most of them were men. Fennic and Isabela arrived, and they were fuming, it turns out they saved me! Seems Fen got her sources wrong!" Lightly, Merrill shrugs it off as the group stare, horrified by the implications.
"Yes…Fennic got her sources…wrong. That's it." Nervously, I whisper my voice breaking anxiously.
"Ever since then, Fennic softened around me, she was kind. Fen would visit the alienage to check on me. I remember when I lost something from my home. I was so sad, it turns out those nice visits the elves from the alienage would give me, stole one of my valuables, the amulet my keeper gave me. The one I had tried to treasure, Fen was furious. She was scary, she was roaring and next thing I know she came back with the elf that had stolen from me. He was black and blue, as she forced the elf to apologise to me and had returned the amulet to me." Merill informs us my eyes widening at the story.
"She did all that? Why am I not surprised?" Fondly, Blackwall chuckles.
"Yes apparently, he was a part of some underground group in Darktown and she took them all on. I only learned about this from Aveline when Ave tried to scold Fen for being so…" Saddened, Merill sighs bowing her head.
"Reckless?" Solas prompts his brow furrowed.
"Yeah, Fen isn't afraid to fight but that's what's scary about it, maybe its due to her slave background but I just wish she would value her life more…." Somberly, Merill whispers pain in her tone.
"You're not the only one…" Softly, Solas whispers as I glance at him, noting the pain in his saddened hues as he looks down heartbroken almost as Merill takes us inside.
"So this is the hanged man…" Impressed, Blackwall raises a brow as Sera smirks while I furrow my brow grimacing at the acidic stench of vomit, alcohol and something sour, that not even I can identify but I do detect the scent of copper lingering in the air as we enter the rather dull, gloomy and depressing bar and this is meant to be better, it looks more depressing if anything.
"About bloody time I want to taste this famous hanged man liquor!" Pumped up, Sera cheers grinning in awe at the establishment.
"I would be surprised if they even served wine here." Grimacing, Dorian snootily scowls at the interior of the tavern, noting his judgmental gaze all over the establishment.
"I've had fond times here. I remember when we all used to place wicked grace here all of us together, I had no idea how to play, the only times I ever did win was thanks to Fen and Isabella." Fondly, Merill recalls.
"It must hurt you to think about having to fight Sebastian." Sympathetically, I whisper as Merill sighs bowing her head.
"It is, Sebastian and I had our differences, but we all looked out for each other like family…" Merill exclaims.
"Family huh," I exclaim frowning, crossing my arms at the thought.
"Yeah Fennic, Hawke and Isabella were like my older sisters, Aveline was like my mother. Fenris, I suppose was like the older brother along with Sebastian, we all were happy here," Sadly, Merill sighs her features turning pained at the memory of them all cheering, celebrating, having the time of their lives, oblivious to what a single action could cause them all to disperse. She didn't want to leave, none of them did but they had to.
"Oi Merill." Startled, we turn to the barkeep greeting her.
"Oh hello Corff is Fen here?" Hopeful, Merill requests turning to the barkeep.
"Yeah, she's in the back…remind me to put that on her tag," Grumpily, Corff remarks as we flinch at the sound of glass breaking and muffled shouts, making my eyes widen fearfully turning to the back.
"Oh, good some friends are here to see her." Oblivious, Merill smiles unfazed by the violence in the background.
"Merill are you sure these are friends or…?" Warily, Corff questions the girl.
"Oh no they are safe." Confidently, she assumes.
"Good I don't want another…Dammit Fennic!" Angrily, Corff slams the mug he was cleaning against the counter as we perk up at the harsh scream of agony, our eyes widening when finding a table being tossed and hitting the wall, startling us when finding some men unconsciously slumped against the wall, crimson seeping out from the tiny slick silver blades embedded into them.
"Oh boy…" Merill sighs.
"What's going on?" Lost, Blackwall demands his hand drawing close to his sheath.
"Just Fen handling some business nothing new." Casually, the barmaid assures them unnerving them even more to find this to be normal behaviour.
"I suggest you take a seat and enjoy the ale if you can…Fen will see you when she wants to." Corff advises them grumpily muttering under his breath as they order their drinks and take a seat.
"Is this really normal?" Unnerved, I question Merrill, noting mine and Solas staring uneasily at the back, hearing muffled screams, roaring and fighting.
"It's Fennic." Simply, Sera shrugs hacking as she bravely takes a sip only to release a hoarse hack, Blackwall patting her back as she grimaces at the drink.
"I can't believe Fen can stomach this." Impressed, Blackwall confesses taking a sip, he himself grimacing but steeling his reaction.
"So what else did you guys sued to do here?" Curious, I question trying to distract myself from the battle behind.
"Well, sometimes she would teach me things so would Isabella, we played cards once and I wanted to continue playing even if I was losing. So I offered my amulet up and lost it. I was very sad my keeper gave it to me before I left…I…Fennic then gave it back to me. She helped me learn how important identity was…" Sadly, Merill informs us as I furrow my brow understanding her naivety well.
"Identity?" Confused, Dorian arches a brow.
"I…how much do you know about Fen?" Struggling, Merill questions us.
"We know she was a slave if that's what you mean." Bluntly, Sera deadpans.
"Yes that, well, Fen…Fen doesn't have much when it comes to sentiment she never understood the concept of it due to well not having any memory of the past I suppose and when she saw gave it back to me. She taught me that no matter how I should cling onto what is important to me, on what makes me me. I should never lose a part of myself over some petty money. I should stay true to myself by valuing the things I have in my past…" Softly, Merill smiles as our eyes widen bowing our heads, that sounds like Fen alright.
"Fen…" Gently, I whisper my brow furrowed only to flinch as we hear the harsh snap of a table and turn to find Corff grumbling.
"Now I suggest you lot hide seems some folks thought they could fuck Fen over." Corff calls out to us as both he and the barmaid kneel down, taking cover as Merill and the rest of us join in, taking cover under our table, Dorian taking his pint alongside Blackwall as we peer under the table watching Fen toss a body into a table hearing the harsh slam of the furniture.
"Well I suppose we're learning something…" Dorian offers trying to be positive.
"What's that?" Curious, I question.
"You don't fuck Fen over." Bluntly, Sera slurs surprising us to find her already intoxicated as my ears hear the screaming cry of help of pain as we watch Fen take on the group of men.
"Piece of Kaffas get back here!" Angrily, Fen curses as she slams some rogue onto the table, breaking the table in two.
"Knife eared whore!" Angrily, the human sneers disgust laced in his tone as he spits at Fen who calmly brushes the saliva off, smearing across her cheek. She slams her knife into the table by his side as he hisses, a thin yet long sleek still cut gushing out ruby red appear as he is forced down into the table.
"Now, now, Johnny that isn't very nice is it now, where are they? I paid you good fucking money!" Snarling, Fen roars at the whimpering Johnny.
"I ain't ratting them out my sista's down there!" Defensively, he declares making Fen roll her eyes tiredly as he releases a harsh cry of pain. Fen withdrawing her blade, only to slam it back into his back, making him release a horrified screech of agony to the high heavens.
"I don't give a shit whose down there! Just tell me where those abominations are!" Snarling, Fen demands making our eyes widen, abominations don't tell me…
"Never! Now you tell me where is the traitor!?" Angrily, Johnny demands from her surprising us considering their positions.
"You honestly think you're going to get an answer out of me in your position after you lied to me. I don't like liars Johnny boy." Smirking, Fen twists her blade making him cry out, crimsons spewing out like a volcano bursting out.
"And I don't like murderers besides my boys will take care of you." Confidently, he promises.
"Oh, you meant the ones behind me? Yeah no." Smugly, Fen smirks our eyes widening in fear as the men grow closer to her, those that had survived I'm guessing… wait does that mean Fen took on….how many did she take on? Amazed, I gawk staring at the several bodies either dead or unconscious, now dealing with the remnants as she leans over, taking a bottle, only then to hear the harsh sound of glass smashing. Swiftly, Fen dodges out of the way of the blade swung at her, kicking the table to sue as a barrier our eyes widening at the blades embedding into the table, noting a few having managed to impale fully into the table, nearly having scraped Fen's cheek as I note the faint shy leak of ruby red.
"Please, please I can't they have my sister, Celeste's in there I don't…" Pleadingly, he begs as Fen after prying the blades off the table and tosses them at Johnny's mem easily killing them, approaches Johnny. Her frowning features scowling as she looks down at the phatic mess crawling trying to flee only to cry out as she slams her foot down on the blade, making him cry out in agony, coughing up splatters of ruby red.
"See here's the thing Johnny, I don't like liars!" Smoothly, Fen smirks kneeling down taunting the pained male, whimpering, chocking on his blood. Smoothly, Fen reaches out to her blade twisting it.
"Argh!" Screaming, he cries out.
"Now. Talk." Harshly, Fen roars at him, digging the blade deeper into him making him cry out tears intermixing with the puddle below creating a perky pink shade below.
"Sorry knife ear, the highest bidder wins…" Weakly, he whispers heaving it out making me gawk, he's in so much pain and he's just smiling about it.
"You crows are as disgusting as the rest." Sneering, Fennic snarls, anger laced in her tone as she kneels down, facing him.
"Business is business." Curtly, her responds groaning as she digs the blade deeper making me grimace, feeling a rush of acid threaten to fall at the sight, my ears hearing the faint crunch of bone, crunching against the slick steel blade making me vomit at the gruesome sight.
"Do you have any idea what those abominations are doing?" Lowly, Fen snarls baring her fangs at the smirking Johnny.
"And do you know what those soldiers of your friends are doing? Fighting over some stupid building blowing up? Harming innocent people caught in the crossfire? That are giving them mercy!" Angrily, Johnny growls back, making me furrow my brow lost to it all, it's like he's blaming Fen. Fen was there she had no idea, she had no control over what happened, you can't blame her for this you can't!
"They are doing no such thing, abominations like them don't know what mercy is!" Enraged, Fennic roars making me flinch back grimacing at the title slur used often associated with me. I guess Fennic despite people calling her the mage saviour still has her bias towards mages…then again with what happened you can't blame her but I had just…maybe it was just hopeful thinking to think of her as being fair minded. I mean I don't see her doing this to a templar like Cullen, a warden like Blackwall, a seeker like Cassandra but I can see her do this to Dorian and especially to Solas and Vivienne but would she do it to me? Uneasily, I grimace at the thought closing my eyes curling in on myself as we hide behind the table only then to hear the gurgled choke, seeing a stream of red spew out as Johnny falls limp, joining his other comrades. Stoically, Fen stands, unfazed by the destruction caused.
"Enjoy the show?" Surprised, we jolt up at Fen's voice unimpressed as she turns to face us, crossing her arms over her chest, looking tired, irritated disappointed almost at the sheer sight of us.
"An 8 out of ten for me." Cheekily, Dorian rates laughing nervously at the sharp glare from Fennic while I note Fennic ignore Solas, easily glancing pass him to see the drunk Sera on the floor, giggling cradling the empty pint as she simply raises a brow at Blackwall, sheepishly shrugging.
"Um…surprised?" Shyly, Merill smiles at the unamused Fennic finally looking into Merrill's worried hues as tiredly, Fennic exhales, pinching the bridge of her nose, counting under her breath, almost trying to cope with it.
"Deal with them, get rid of them…" Sternly, Fennic commands Merill waving us off almost as she turns her back to us.
"Wha? Fen wait!" Urgently, I call out to her making her groan as she faces me scowling just as she is about to leave, her brow twitching.
"Just. Stay. OUT. Of. It." Sternly, Fennic orders me surprising me as I flinch from the heavy slam of the door watching her storm off leaving us alone…
Happy Halloween!