Chapter Fifty-One: Trouble at Midnight

I open my eyes, seeing the darkened interior of the room. Why am I awake? Wait, there was a sound. Someone's in the room.

"Varric?" I call, sitting up. But it's not Varric. Not at all.

"What are you doing here?" a female voice asks.

"Hey, Bianca." I rub my eyes, and stretch, and decide to take a page from Miracle's book. "I'm sleeping. Can you come back in the morning?" I go to lay back down.

"Where's Varric?"

I sigh, sitting back up. "You're rather persistent for someone who's trespassing right now." I push the covers back, and stand up. I'm not having this conversation in my sleeping shift. Pulling on a dressing robe, I feel a little more prepared to face my former rival.

"Fine," I say, looking down at her, glad I'm taller than someone for once. "I'm here because I live here now, and Varric is away on a mission with the Inquisitor. Would you like to leave him a message?"

"You're lying. Varric wouldn't move some-"

She doesn't get a chance to finish that statement, as I hurl an orb of ice energy just next to her head. It crashes into the wall behind her, leaving a layer of frost. She inhales in surprise, her hood falling back off of her head, and steps to the side, grabbing her bow and reaching for an arrow.

I cast a small force spell, knocking the bow out of her hand. It clatters to the floor and slides under a chair. Her eyes flick to its location.

I shake my head. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. You really want to rethink that last statement, Bianca. I know you're supposed to be brilliant or something, but you don't know the first thing about me."

"Maybe, but I know Varric better than anyone."

"You had your chance, and the time to lament your choices is long over. Varric moved on. Deal with it. He still listens to you for some reason, so I'll take your message to him, but you will respect me in my own quarters."

"Well, well," she says, a mocking grin tilting up the corners of her pretty mouth. "Varric found himself a feisty one." She takes a deep breath, pausing. "Good."

Reading her intention, I relax my posture. I didn't know I was being tested, but it seems like I passed. "There's not much I wouldn't do for him," I reassure her.

She nods. "Sounds like you already know, but I'm Bianca of House Davri."

"Ferox," I say, considering adding more, but figuring this dwarf and I are already enough at odds without disclosing my origins.

"Fine, keep your secrets," she mutters.

"Why are you here, again?" I ask. "You obviously need something."

"I've learned how Corypheus is getting his red lyrium. I came to bring the lead to Varric."

"Shit. The Inquisitor is going to want to know that. I...have a way of passing on a message to both of them. Tell me."

"We're not talking about a raven, are we?" she asks, cocking her head to the side. Not so dumb, after all.

"No, as you obviously guessed, it's magic. I gave Hawke a trinket that will let me talk with them. But I doubt they're awake right now. Most rational people are sleeping."

"Try them."

I sigh. "Will you leave afterwards if I do?"

At her nod, I grab the pendant off the nightstand, and open it. I connect the magic, remembering instructing Hawke on doing this very thing, but I don't see anything right away.

"Nothing. I told you they wouldn't be awake."

No sooner had I spoken than the image appears. Garrett's sleepy countenance is visible in the shimmering blue energy.

"Ferox?" he asks, his voice low and scratchy. "What is it?" He stops and his jaw drops. "Is that who I think it is?"

"Yeah, guess I'll make introductions. Garrett, meet Bianca Davri. Bianca, that's Garrett Hawke, the Champion of Kirkwall."

"I may not have met the man but I know who he is," she grumbles. "So he can see me, right? Can he hear me?"

"I hear you just fine," Hawke answers.

"Amazing," she says, studying the pendant. "How does this thing work?"

"Don't touch it!" I snap, carefully pulling it away from her. I hear Varric's familiar chuckle in the background. "Varric's with you? I thought he didn't like sharing a tent with the octopus."

The image shifts, and I see my beloved dwarf again. "Hey," he says. "We got to camp later than we expected, it was easier just to share tonight. Andraste's ass, I never thought I'd see the two of you together."

"Watch the Andraste talk," I remind him. "It seems Bianca had news that couldn't wait and came looking for you. In our room."

"Ugh...sorry about that."

"And which one of us are you apologizing to?" Bianca asks.

"A little of both. I've just been gone so damned long from any kind of civilization, I haven't been able to send a letter to let Bianca know that we're living together now."

"He's just trying to save his ass," I comment to Bianca, and she snorts.

"Maker's balls, Varric, they're working together," Hawke observes from out of view. "You don't stand a chance."

I chuckle. "I think Bianca and I have come to an understanding."

He frowns. "What happened before you contacted us?"

"Just a little girl talk," Bianca states vaguely, "but there's a reason I'm here. I think I know where Corypheus is getting his red lyrium."

"Where?" he asks.

"Bartrand's Folly; the location has been leaked."

Varric rubs his temples. "Shit, seriously?"

"That's the thaig we went to on the expedition when we first found red lyrium," Hawke explains, but of course, I already knew part of that. I'd watched a lot of Hawke's accomplishments in Kirkwall.

"Not only that," Bianca states, "but there's a Deep Roads entrance in the Hinterlands. It's been crawling with humans carting the stuff out."

I think back to when the dwarves had more open trade with the people on the surface. My family had some interactions with them. I've been to the Deep Roads...but that was so long ago. I remember being impressed by the opulence of the dwarven thaigs.

"You're quiet, Firefly, what is it?" Varric asks.

"Lost in memories," I admit. "Remembering the last time I was in the Deep Roads. They were magnificent."

"How long ago was that?" Hawke questions. "Now they're mostly collapsed, or taken over by darkspawn, or just full of nug shit."

"I can't even remember anymore. I just remember seeing them for the first time. But if we can shut off Corypheus's supply of red lyrium, it's worth investigating, right?"

"Definitely," Varric says. "I'll talk to Declan first thing in the morning, and I'll let you know what he says."

I nod. "Sounds good. I can meet you there, or I could come get you."

His expression changes, looking concerned. "Actually...I think it would be better if you don't go this time."

"What? Why?"

His eyes dart to the side. "Because of what happened in the Hissing Wastes," he says, leaving me to fill in the rest of the details. He doesn't want to say it in front of Bianca, but he's worried the red lyrium will speed up the corruption in Toth.

I grunt and reluctantly admit, "You may have a point on that one. You should think about taking Tenebris, though, if I can't go. It's his area of expertise, after all."

Varric nods. "Not a bad idea, Firefly. I'll suggest it to the Inquisitor."

"Who's Tenebris?" Bianca asks.

I tilt my head to watch her out of the corner of my eye. "One of my three brothers. He's been consulting with the Inquisition about red lyrium."

"He's the one who found a way to treat Bartrand," Varric adds.

"Ah, then he has my thanks already. From what I hear, Bartrand was deteriorating fast. The healers in Kirkwall said he'd probably never recover the last time I contacted them."

"Alright, so it sounds like I'll be hearing from you tomorrow," I announce. I wish I could talk to you longer, but I just want to get her out of here.

"Ah, Varric? Could I talk to you alone for a minute?" Bianca asks. I cut her a look.

"No, actually, you can't," Hawke teases. "I have to use magic to keep this thing going."

"You can stay, Hawke," she says. So I'm the only one who can't hear what she has to say? You'd better watch yourself, Bianca.

"I hate to ask…" Varric says.

"I have to use magic, too, but I suppose I could go out into the hall. My magic can reach that far, but you're gonna owe me for this, Love."

"Anything," he promises and I can't help but laugh at his grin.

"Oh, anything, huh? I'll have to think on that one, make sure it's something...creative."

"Can't wait."

"Do they always flirt like this?" Bianca asks Garrett.

"Worse," he comments. "But I think it's cute."

"Right then. You get about five minutes, so I suggest you're quick about it." I set the pendant on the writing desk, and step out into the hallway, gently closing the door behind me. There's enough of a gap under the door that I'm able to maintain the tendril of magic connecting to the water.

Damn, she makes me angry. Sneaking into Varric's room in the middle of the night. They'd obviously done that enough times she felt assured that she would be welcome. I remember Varric telling me about her before. I hadn't wanted to hear it, had been adrift in the cold. I inhale. Trust him. Besides, Hawke is right there. Not even Bianca would be that bold.

I'm tempted to press my ear up against the wood of the door and try to listen in, and it takes sheer force of will to keep me away from it. I sit on the floor, propping my back up against the wall. At least I'll get to see him again, I think, hugging my knees to my chest. I need to deliver what I have finished of the Draconic language primer to Frederic. It's as good an excuse as any. There will be plenty of time to charge the ring again before we'd get to Adamant.

The door opens. Bianca seems surprised to see me sitting, and smiles. "Neat toy you've got there. I don't suppose you'd let me borrow it for research?"

"It wouldn't do you any good without magic." I shrug, standing up.

She nods. "Be good to him," she says with a small smile.

"No problem there. But you're the one who gets to go with him. Keep him safe. I'd hate to make him angry when I send you back to your family one frozen piece at a time."

Her smile widens. "Just so we understand each other."

I nod. "Goodnight, Bianca."

She hikes her bow up onto her shoulder, and after a few steps, disappears into the shadows of the darkened hallway. I walk back into the room, the blue glow of the magic still illuminating the room.

I start toward it, and hear Varric's voice, thick with sarcasm. "Well, that's not going to be trouble at all."

"I'm back," I state, and move the pendant back to my hand.

"Sorry, Ferox, I'm running out of mana. I need to rest," Hawke says.

"No, it's alright, Garrett. Thank you for responding so quickly. Tomorrow, then."

I get a "goodnight" from both of them, and the light of the pendant fades, leaving me in the dark. I sit still for a moment, my eyes adjusting again to the darkness. Tomorrow. You can talk to him more tomorrow. I relock the door, although it hadn't stopped Bianca the first time, and crawl back between the covers. I'm restless now, trying to imagining what Bianca wanted to say to Varric, somewhat wishing I had listened in. I find it hard to sleep the rest of the night.