Kirkwall, white city of chains, with its statues looming over the boats as they entered the port, tiny beneath her as she flew higher. The statues were huge and a lot more daunting than she had expected, and she decided she didn't like them at all. She flew around until she found an out of the way alley in Lowtown that was empty and transformed back into a human. Her body was in so much pain and she was exhausted, but she couldn't imagine staying in the city for the night. She just needed to find some food and then she could leave again, hopefully before sunrise. She wandered out into the marketplace, amazed at the size and how much they hadn't put in the game, and tried to think of a way to get food without straight up begging for it. Maybe someone had a small job she could do, but there weren't any vendors out anymore. Would anyone help her, dressed as she was?
Since it was before the great exodus of Fereldens, she wondered if she would be met with any discrimination for that as well, or if they would be ok with some random girl asking for a job to do. As she wandered around, she spotted the Hanged Man and figured what the hell and walked in. It was always open, after all. It looked pretty similar to the game but oh the smells. Vomit and alcohol mixed with body odor and sweat and... whatever that was... Being used to the open air, she was about ready to leave when she heard a familiar voice.
"... And then you know what he says?" She looked over and saw Varric, looking pretty much the same as she expected, surrounded by people. She smiled at seeing the familiar face, too distracted to pay attention to his punchline. She was actually pretty surprised to see him and wondered if she should just leave, but then decided that she wasn't exactly noteworthy and should be fine. As the people started to break away, she turned instead to the bartender. He was a thin man with a stern face, someone she didn't think would be a good idea to cross.
"Excuse me, I was just wondering if there was some sort of work I could do for a bit of bread?" She asked.
"This ain't no charity, girl." The bartender sighed. "I can't just feed every street urchin who comes in looking for food!"
"I beg your pardon, I didn't mean to offend." She frowned and turned away as the bartender went back to working with actual paying customers, trying to figure out what to do next. It would be so much easier if she could just hunt, then she could just ignore the cities altogether. What were they going to think of her barbaric ways in Tevinter?
"Excuse me, did I hear you say you're looking for work?" She turned and saw a man who looked like he had questionable motives, but, well, that was always one way to get to Tevinter...
"Mostly looking for food, messere." She said, hoping she used the correct honorific. "If work will ease my stomach, then yes."
He smirked, then offered her a seat. "Wait here, I'll get you something." She sat down, her heart beating hard as the panic started to rise again. What if he drugged her? She was willing to go to Tevinter, even if it meant becoming a slave, so long as she was able to learn. However, this man didn't know that, and they were known to take whatever measures they could, especially since it meant operating under the law. She needed to be ready for anything...
He came back with some food and a drink. "Here, eat." He said. She cringed at the smell, but more than that, her stomach wanted it and her mouth was watering for it.
"What do I have to do for this?" She asked.
The man shrugged. "We'll discuss that after you're done." He said. "This meal's on me." She felt like she was about to cry, thinking about what he would ask of her, but she was too hungry. She forced herself to eat some bread slowly, not wanting to get sick, wondering if the drink was drugged or if it was the food. Kirkwall, the land of crazy people, slavers, and blood magic. No one was to be trusted, except maybe Varric. She sniffed the drink, but it didn't smell alcoholic.
"What's this?" She asked. "I don't recognize it."
"It's just a tea." He said. "You're not from around here, but it's pretty common in Kirkwall." If her clothing hadn't given her away, her accent would have. She took a sip and found that while bitter, it wasn't horrible tasting and easy to stomach. Her hand was shaking as she drank, spilling some on her dress. She wiped her chin nervously.
"Are you all right?" The man asked. "You're not sick or anything, are you? You're trembling and sweating..."
"No, ser, I'm just... exhausted." She said. And terrified. "I traveled all day today and I need to get back on the road as soon as possible."
"Oh?" He raised his eyebrows. "Where are you headed? And are you sure a boy of your age should be traveling alone? I have connections, I can get you to where you need to go, safely." Boy? She almost laughed, and decided not to correct him.
"I... don't know if I should say." She looked around, nervous.
He leaned in close and spoke quietly, "On the run, are you?" He asked. "What'd you do?"
"This was a mistake." She said, the anxiety overwhelming her. "I need to go... thank you for the meal, but I can't stay." She stood up, pushing the still mostly full plate away, and felt a wave of dizziness hit her.
The man crossed his arms, smiling. "I don't think you're in any shape to go anywhere." He said.
"You're a slaver, aren't you?" She asked. "One of the quickest ways to get to Tevinter, I suppose, but you're not very good at making a kid feel comfortable." Another wave of dizziness hit her, forcing her to lean on the table for support. "You have no idea what I am." She laughed and the man stood up, looking concerned.
"Hey now, what's going on here?" Claire looked over, surprised to see Varric standing there. She realized was just a smidge taller than the dwarf, which struck her as odd, since she didn't feel that short, but pushed that thought aside. He really did have a lot of chest hair...
"I just needed a little food to tide me over while I travel." She said.
"Oh? Where're you headed?" He asked. "Surely not Tevinter. That's no place for a kid like you."
"Um, not really sure I should say." She spoke quietly, feeling nervous, as if a Templar was going to leap out at her the longer she stayed there.
"What do you want?" The man asked, irritated at being interrupted.
"Just seeing how everyone's doing." Varric smiled innocently. "I have to make sure you're not harassing the guests, you know. Or trying to pick up little boys." He laughed and looked at Claire. "But seriously, you're like, what, twelve?"
She pouted, wishing she had more of a chest to show them she wasn't a boy. "I'm fourteen." She said.
"Same thing, you're just a kid." He waved his hand dismissively. "What're you doing wandering around the Hanged Man? There are other places one can go for food, you know. Like the Chantry." He must have caught the look of fear that flashed across her face because he raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps you'd like to join me in my room and I can have them bring up some clean food in exchange for a story." He glared at the slaver, who tossed up his hands in exasperation.
"Fine, but don't think I'll forget this." He said, getting up and storming out. Varric walked over to the bartender and gave him an order before leading Claire up to his room. She was surprised it was the same place as in the game, she hadn't thought he had stayed there for so long. She had to remind herself that she didn't actually know him and she needed to treat him like any other stranger. How weird was it for a random dwarf to ask a young girl, or boy, to his room anyway?
He pulled out a chair. "Have a seat and tell me your story. You don't seem like the type stupid enough to believe he had your best interests at heart."
"I don't know why you'd be interested in a street urchin..." She mumbled as she sat down.
"Because you make it so mysterious!" He laughed, sitting down across from her.
"That's because I don't need any Templars..." She shut her mouth quickly and looked around before lowering her voice. "I don't need any Templars deciding that I'd make good target practice again."
"So you are an apostate." He said.
Claire took a deep breath before saying, "I was abandoned in the Korcari Wilds, in Ferelden, and the Chasind took me in until my magic showed up and they discovered they didn't know how to help me, so they sent me to the Witch of the Wilds, but she didn't know what to do, so... I'm on my way to Tevinter. If I have to go as a slave, then so be it. I'm tired of being hungry..." She put her forehead on the table, feeling dizzy, wishing the food would just hurry up and come before Varric decided to kick her out.
"Part of me wants to think you're spewing a load of nug shit, but I dunno, maybe it's the way you say it... I want to believe you." Varric was staring at her as if he was expecting her to grow another head. "Ok, so even if that is true, if you have no money, how are you getting to Tevinter without becoming a slave? Because I can't honestly expect you to want that. And how did you get here?"
"I got here by boat, mostly, and flying." She mumbled. "Though I still hurt from where the Templar stabbed me today so I had to stop to rest."
"Considering your clothing is ripped and covered in blood..." He said. "All right, I'll give you the Templar attack, but what about the flying bit?" He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in the chair. She transformed into a raven and hopped up onto the table, startling Varric, who almost knocked the chair backwards, catching himself on the table at the last minute. She cawed in his face, then flew over towards the bed, becoming human again.
"You tell anyone, I know how to kill you in your sleep without even touching you." She glared at him. It was mostly a bluff, but he didn't know that.
"Well, remind me not to piss you off!" He said. "I'd say that tale earned you some food." One of the bar maids came in with a platter full of food and and a pitcher, making Claire's mouth hurt from salivating, her stomach growling like a lion.
"Oh Maker, you have no idea how good that smells..." She grabbed a fresh hot roll and savored each bite. She didn't need a stomach ache from overeating, nor did she need to throw up all over Varric's boots. The little bit of bread she'd had hadn't been enough to truly satiate her hunger, nor was it like this roll... Oh the soft fluffy texture of the bread that practically melted in her mouth... He poured something into a cup and handed it to her, so she sniffed it suspiciously.
"It's just a tea they make down here." He said, pouring himself a cup. "Didn't think it'd be good for you to get drunk right before you fly out. You did mention you're leaving tonight?"
She sipped the tea. "That's the plan. I don't feel comfortable in the city and I want to get to Tevinter as soon as possible." She grabbed some meat and while it was tough and chewy, it was still so good.
"It's already quite late." Varric said. "And you said yourself that you're inexperienced with magic, plus anyone can tell you're still affected by whatever he stuck in your food, so what do you say, stay here for the night and leave in the morning?" Claire looked suspiciously at the dwarf.
"First off, why would you want some strange apostate staying here?" She asked. "Second off, I don't know you, and while I really appreciate your hospitality, I can't stay, I need to go as soon as I can. You must know how weird it looks, some strange dwarf inviting a girl to sleep in his room..." She stood up, pushing the chair from the table, ready to leave.
"You're a girl?" He chuckled. "And you didn't even correct me. Look, I'm just worried about you. You come in here, talking about getting stabbed by Templars, running for your life, seeking slavery of all things, and you probably haven't eaten in days... You look like you desperately need a break. Especially with that black eye and all those scratches." Her vision swam before her and she stared at Varric.
"Varric... wha-" She clutched her head, willing herself not to throw up. "He drugged me..." The dwarf rushed to her side and helped her to the bed.
"This does not bode well..." He said. "You just take it easy and wait for it to pass." As he walked away, she heard him mutter, "What have you gotten yourself into now?" Feeling too vulnerable on the bed, she rolled herself onto the floor and hid beside the bed, praying no one would find her. She pressed herself against the bed and felt the drugs take her.
Light filtered in through the door and Claire could barely see it from beside the bed, but it was enough to let her know it was daytime. Her head was killing her and it took her a moment to remember that she could just heal it with a quick breath of mana. She stood up and looked around. There didn't seem to be any signs of a fight, but Varric's words as he left her made her wonder if someone had made an attempt on his life over her. Overall, the sounds of the tavern were quiet, not like they were at night, and it was almost calming.
A loud snore from the bed startled her and she jumped back, staring at the dwarf on the bed. He was still dressed and covered in blood, confirming her fears. Her first instinct was to heal him, so she gently laid her hands on him, pouring her magic into him. It struck her as almost hilarious that she was there, healing Varric, one of her favorite characters from the second and third games. She'd essentially gotten to sleep with three of the game companions! Maybe when she was older, she'd really get to...
"Maker's breath!" He said, sitting up, jerking her from her thoughts. "I thought you'd been taken!"
"I passed out next to the bed." She said. "Now hold still, you're still injured." He smiled and shook his head as she finished healing him.
"The slavers came back for you, you know." He said. "They didn't realize who they were dealing with though!"
"Are they always so desperate?" She asked. "I'm not exactly special looking and there was no way they'd know I'm a mage..."
"I think it was more the fact that I took you from them." He said. "You know, I never introduced myself. How'd you know my name?" Claire bit back a curse as she realized she had made yet another mistake, though this time the drugs had been clouding her judgment. How was she going to get past this one?
She sighed. "Let's just say it was magic."
"Magic..." He grumbled. "You gotta give me a better answer than that." Claire twitched, trying to figure out what to say then. She hadn't been caught before, never had to have a reason... Visions of the future then? How lame that sounded...
"I saw you in a dream..." She said quietly. "But the events in the dream didn't take place until much later. I didn't expect you to be here now, else I would have avoided the place." She stood up.
"You're joking." He said, then paused. "Except that you're not... Why would you dream of me?"
"Well, you're not alone in the dream." She said. "But... I... I shouldn't have told you. I need to go." She turned, but he had grabbed her arm.
"Hey, take it easy, all right? I'll see you around, Seer." She smiled and nodded, then hurried away, glad that he hadn't pressed her further.