"Why do we have to bring her along again?" Farill's shem friend, Jack, asks. They are crawling uphill through a drainage pipe that smells like old fish.

Melian is wondering the same thing. She doesn't actually want to be here to start with. It had sounded like a good idea at first, but now she was hot, out of breath, and lagging badly behind the others.

"Because my cupcakes made her sick, and I promised her that she could come. Mama is making her do my chores for three days as a correction. I hate it when she gets sick, you know that. I say really dumb stuff." He replies.

"You could just send her back, you know. Who's to say she won't squeal on us anyway? Right now, she doesn't know where we're going." The shem girl, Kelly, says.

"I promised. And I keep my promises. Besides, she's trustworthy. Why not bring her along?"

"She can barely even keep up! If anyone sees us and we have to run, she'll get caught and give them our route in. They'll seal off the tunnel!" Jack retorts.

"Ok, I'll make her promise." Farill turns towards her, blue eyes stern. "You won't tell them where our secret tunnel is, will you?" He asks.

"Of course not! Silent as the stone!" She swears.

"Don't tell Bartrand she said that! He won't give us free food anymore!" Kelly protests.

"Bartrand doesn't even care. They left Orzammar for a reason you know." Jack replies.

"Bartrand cares. He yells at anyone in the Hightown market who slanders the Stone." Kelly insists, flicking her bright red braid behind her back.

"Anyway, we'd better not bring her with us, Farill. She could ruin everything!"

"She's fine. She's promised not to say anything."

"She could still say something to someone and mess everything up. She's just a little kid! She'll open her mouth and say something stupid and the game will be up." Jack stops in his tracks, looking down at them from his place at the front of the line.

"She can stay quiet. Right?" Farill glances back at her.

"Right. I promise I won't say anything until I know how your plans work." She crosses her heart with her hand, like she's seen other shem children do.

"Her promises mean nothing! She stole your cupcakes, Farill. Somehow, I don't think that adds up to "trustworthy"." He uses one hand for quotation marks, the other still anchored firmly to the floor of the pipe to keep from slipping.

"I'll vouch for her. She's my sister. Leaving her out of this would be like telling you Kelly couldn't come to Varric's story nights."

"Fine! Be that way. But if we get in trouble, you'll pay. We may be poor, but we still have more status than you elves any day." Jack resumes climbing up the pipe and they get on their way again.

"And I'll just have to send one of our apostate mages in hiding to turn you and your oh-so-powerful family into frogs." Farill retorts.

The boys get a good laugh, Kelly shakes her head and Melian guesses that the other girl must be rolling her eyes.

Melian is too out of breath to have her own opinion in the mess. Chances are, she'd just laugh with the boys if she could. Jokes like are apparently quite common among them.

The pipe levels off after some way, and widens enough for them to stand in. Melian risks a short jog to catch up, and her heart jumps and drops a little in her chest.

"Are you alright, Melian?" Farill asks, as she leans against the side of the pipe to catch her breath.

"Yes. Just give me a moment." She blinks, trying to get the black splotches out of her eyes.

"We are in so much trouble." Jack grumbles.

They continue on at a slower pace, keeping quiet now that they are under the market area of Hightown. There are openings above them designed to force air back through the pipes to keep the stink out of the fancy, well kept streets above.

Abruptly, the tunnel ends by going straight up with a rusty ladder sitting underneath a circular opening above them. Beside the ladder is a wooden crate with a steel lock on it.

Jack produces a key from his pocket and throws open the lid to reveal rich people clothes inside.

A scent of heavy, flowery perfume hits Melian in the nose and she stumbles back a step.

"Yeah, it's not perfect, but it does the job. People can't smell the sewer stink if we dump bottles of perfume in here every so often and seal it up." Kelly says, throwing a dress at her.

Melian catches it easily and throws it over her grungy Lowtown Alienage attire.

It's a pretty light lavender with lace that reaches all the way to her ankles.

Melian giggles and spins, imagining a little crown on her head.

"You look beautiful." Farill says. "Here, this should make it perfect." He holds out a matching lavender ribbon for her hair.

She turns to let him weave it into a silky, loose, brown braid down her back. He pulls some of the slack down to cover her ears.

He dons brown trousers that fit loosely over his Lowtown summer shorts and buttons up a light blue long sleeved shirt with a collar. His pale blond hair already covers his ears, but he ties a light blue headband around in case of wind. His bangs hang in front of it, still out of his face, in a blatant disregard for how the thing is probably supposed to be worn.

Jack and Kelly wear similar outfits, with Kelly in a red dress that nearly matches her hair, which now hangs in long red waves, framing her face.

Jack wears a light green long sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a dark green vest over it. His trousers are the same as Farill's.

"A lot of work to go up there, but it has to be done." He grumbles.

"Dressing up is part of the fun!" Kelly replies, running her fingers through her hair.

John and Farill share a look. "Girls." They say.

Melian is inclined to agree with Kelly, and she feels a little bit less irritated with the girl beside her than she's been for the last hour.

Jack climbs the ladder and looks around cautiously. Seeing nothing amiss, he disappears from above and comes back moments later, passing a bucket full of the cleanest water Melian's ever seen down to Farill.

"Wash up, ladies. Have to look good for the boys out there. Maybe one of you will marry up and we can all move to Hightown someday!" Farill announces.

Kelly and Melian both laugh. It's clearly a joke, because in Farill and Melian's case, they'd probably have to do something more than marry up to get a place in Hightown. Maybe if they saved the world or something.

Jack comes back down the ladder and washes his face and arms hurriedly. Melian has to squash down her guilt at dirtying, rather than drinking, such clean water.

"We're not going to have as long as usual before the guards change shifts today. We took too long getting here." He looks pointedly at Melian. "So let's keep the pace quick. Melian, if you get lost, just stop where you are and don't say anything to anyone. I know this place like the back of my hand. I'll come looking for you."

"Alright."

They climb up the ladder and emerge into bright, late afternoon sunlight.

Melian shields her eyes against the glare. Kelly and the boys have already set off down one of the streets and she hurries to catch up.

The air is clear here, and she finds that she doesn't feel like coughing every other breath, although she still feels as though she isn't getting enough air.

She catches up right before they go around a turn.

Farill glances behind them to make sure she is still there. She gives him a weak smile and allows her eyes to wander around the extravagant surroundings.

Flowerbeds hang over windowsills and sit in front of doors. Their sweet scent fills the air.

As they enter the market area proper, the sound of haggling merchants and shoppers presses in on her ears.

She glances at some pretty clothing in a stall and wishes they had time to stop there.

They stop in front of a dwarf man a head shorter than ten year old Farill.

"You brought it then?" The man asks.

"Yes sir. Got it from some merchant by the docks." Farill hands him a golden colored bowl with rubies along the rim.

"What did it cost ya?"

"A day's mopping and a couple whacks across the face for "forgetting" to call the Captain "sir"." Farill answers, rubbing his cheek at the memory.

The dwarf laughs.

"Well! I can pay you for the day's mopping, but your smart mouth is your own fault!" He says, still chuckling. "Aw, who am I kidding. That captain probably deserved it! I tell you what, I'll throw in some dessert for ya."

The dwarf disappears for a while and the kids wait impatiently.

"Sometimes, I think he does this to see if we'll go away without food for once." Jack grumbles.

"No, I think he's just really busy and probably multitasks. He probably forgets and remembers at least twice that he's promised us something."

"You're too kind for an elf, Farill. Aren't you supposed to hate everyone anyway?" Kelly asks.

"No, just shemlen like you. And you're supposed to hate me too, but you don't." He responds, grinning.

"You all had better keep it down! If they find out you're elves, we're as good as dead." Jack snaps in a whisper.

"It's never too late to turn us in and get yourself a reward, you know." Farill retorts, still grinning.

Jack growls under his breath, but turns away as he smiles.

"And how would I get my share of the food if we didn't have you doing the talking?" Kelly asks.

"You'd just have to teach Jack over here to be as charming as me." Farill reaches over and ruffles Jack's brown hair playfully.

"Not possible. You're the only silver tongue in Lowtown who actually looks like he belongs in Hightown!" Kelly blushes and glances away, despite her strong words.

Melian can understand how someone could get a crush on her brother. Kind, honest, soft spoken, and Elven good looks. But it didn't make it any less gross to watch.

I hope I never grow up.

"So, is that Bartrand then?" She asks, mostly to alleviate the other girl's embarrassment at her slip up.

"Thought you weren't going to talk, Pipsqueak." Jack glared at her in warning.

"Yes, that's Bartrand. He's always looking for things he can sell. He fixes up whatever we bring him and sells it for some crazy price. He's a bit greedy with money, but he gives anything away if it's not too valuable. I think it's his brother's doing. Varric tells great stories. He hangs out in Lowtown pretty often. He'll feed us too, when he visits. And we don't have to do anything for him." Kelly answers her, shooting her brother a look.

The girls had been mortal enemies in the morning, and now it seemed like they were finding common ground and slowly becoming friends.

Maybe it was the fish fumes in the sewer pipe.

Bartrand comes back with a sack slung over his shoulder and some frosted pastries on a plate in his other hand. Behind a dwarf in a bright red jacket with a crossbow lugged some canteens and packets of dried, salted meat and fish with him.

"I don't see why we need to give them half our pantry, Varric. You're always costing us a fortune!" Bartrand grumbled to the other dwarf.

"And you're always making a fortune. I don't see what the harm is." Varric replies good naturedly. "Besides, that one," He nods toward Melian,"looks like she could use a good meal. I know elves are supposed to be skinny, but by Andraste! That one's just skin and bones!"

"They know we're elves?" Melian asks, surprised.

"Yeah, Bartrand and Varric know who all of us are. They won't betray us though.

And I thought you were going to keep your mouth shut?" Jack reminds her.

She makes a buttoning motion over her lips in response.

"Alright, here we are." Varric sets his packets and canteens down and comes close to Melian.

He kneels down in front of her, so that he's looking up at her.

"I don't think I've seen you before." He says. "What's your name?"

She glances at Jack. He rolls his eyes and sighs.

"Go ahead. Only Varric and Bartrand." He says, exasperated.

"Melian." She replies.

"That's a pretty name. A pretty name for a pretty girl." He offers her a pastry.

"I can't." Normally, she'd have taken it. To be polite. And because every once in a while, she just couldn't resist it, if there was anything sweet around.

But the memory of yesterday's aches and pain, cramps and the nosebleed is fresh in her mind.

"She can't eat bread, sir. It makes her ill. She also can't have milk. And no spices in the summer, except for mint." Farill covers for her, taking the pastry from Varric.

"Food sickness, huh? That's pretty rare in humans. I don't think I've ever heard of it happening to elves." Varric stands up and digs through the sack that Bartrand is holding.

"Hey!" He grouches. Varric cheerfully ignores him.

"It's not entirely unheard of, sir. It happens sometimes in city elves. It runs in blood. Some say it comes from shem, uh, humans, in the line. We might have had distant human ancestors." Farill explains.

Varric looks at him closely when he comes back over.

"You do look like you've got a human nose, kid." He taps his own nose. "Elves don't usually have a dip in their nose between the eyes. That's definitely a human nose."

He looks at Melian. "You've got it too. Covering your ears wouldn't help much otherwise."

"Alright, now how're these kids going to get all this back to Lowtown, Varric? You see? You fix one problem and create another! If they take this through normal roads into Lowtown, in plain sight, people are going to ask questions!" Bartrand complains.

"Relax, brother! I'll figure it out!" Varric chuckles and slings an arm around his shoulders. "You worry about selling that precious bowl, and I'll worry about getting the kids home safe with their supplies."

"I'm not worried about them! What if they get caught? I'll be ruined!" Bartrand throws his fists up in protest.

"Ruined by the loss of a few silver pieces worth of items a week? I had no idea that the family business was in that much trouble! You should have said something, brother! I could've taken Bianca bounty hunting!" Varric says, putting a hand over his heart dramatically.

"Why Varric, I ought to.."

"Just worry about the bowl, brother. You fixed your problem. Let me fix mine."

Varric pats him on the back.

He takes the sack from a sputtering Bartrand and hands it to Jack, hands the canteens to Farill and two baskets of various pastries to Kelly.

"Can I carry Bianca today, sir?" Farill asks, and if Melian didn't know better, she'd think her brother was begging.

Varric glances at Melian. He takes the crossbow off his back and hands it to Farill.

"Careful. Don't scratch her! And don't let the canteens knock into her! Walk in front where I can see you." He says, in an uncharacteristically stern tone.

"Yes sir!" Farill nods seriously, nearly dropping a canteen in a clumsy salute. His face splits into a euphoric grin as he readjusts the canteens and carefully takes the crossbow.

He looks like he'll crumble under the weight, but valiantly soldiers on in front of them.

"And what are we going to do with you?" Varric his attention back Melian.

"Me, sir?" She asks.

"You look wiped out, kid. The sun getting to ya?" He kneels down again to get a closer look.

"I'm fine! I've kept up all day! I feel great!" She insists.

Please don't leave me here! Please don't send me home!

"You don't look fine, kid. You're as white as a ghost."

She knows it has to be true. She's been hot and out of breath all day trying to keep up with the older three. And she hadn't been able to finish breakfast. She'd been sick to her stomach and she was thankful Mama had even let her out of the house.

Now, her stomach feels hollow and lets out a loud growl.

"Sorry." She murmurs, embarrassed.

"Up you go." He slings her arms around his neck and picks her up, piggyback style, keeping a hold on her arms in case she faints.

"Where to, sir?" Jack asks.

"You know that little park I showed you last month?"

Jack starts off with Kelly beside him, Farill stumbling along behind, and Varric carrying Melian and bringing up the rear.

Before too long, Jack and Kelly are laughing and talking about some random bit of news going on with their human friends, and occasionally Varric chuckles at something they say.

Melian feels weak and tired, and the combination of the sun on her back, the motion of the walk, and the chatter and laughter of everyone around her lulls her to sleep.

She feels Varric's hand tighten on her arms to keep her from falling, and then she feels and hears nothing else.