.vi.
Orana is carrying her mistress- lady's freshly laundered clothes through the main room when Galahad stands and watches the door in the peculiar way he does before they have a visitor. She sets the basket down the stairs, and brushes her hands on her apron just as the knocking starts. As she moves for the door, she pets Galahad on the head with affection, and he trots behind her, comforting presence pressed against her leg.
Messeres Varric and Fenris are at the door, looking noticeably perturbed. She lets them in, and Galahad twines between the two, stubby tail wagging.
"Hello Orana," Varric greets her with a grin, though it is strained. "Would you tell Bodahn I'm back?"
"Right away, Messere Varric," she gives a quick curtsy and sets off in search of the other dwarf.
"Nice to see you too, boy," she hears him continue as she leaves the room. Galahad barks happily.
She finds Bodahn bent over a ledger, intently pouring over the contents while Sandal re-arranges his box of enchanting equipment for what must be the fourth time that day.
"Bodahn, Messere Varric is here with Messere Fenris. They wanted to see you."
"Ah, of course. I'll be right out."
She turns to go, and Sandal mumbles sadly as she walks by. "Pretty lady sails away." Something about his words and tone unsettles her, but she disregards it, and goes back to the main room.
"-brings him nearly everywhere. That he is not with her is worrisome." Fenris's face is more drawn than usual.
"That doesn't prove anything, Broody. Besides, some might say the same of you." Varric looks like he's trying for a joke, but it doesn't go over well.
"He will be out in a moment," she says, her voice incredibly quiet compared to their own, despite their hushed tones.
"Thank you," Fenris bites out, words clipped. She bows a little underneath his intensity.
"Hey, Broody, watch your tongue around the lovely young lady," Varric chastises. He harrumphs, but looks at her with a touch of shame. "My apologies." She dips her head with a small smile, feeling the desire to speak welling up in her throat. Once upon a time, she would have done well to quash any such feelings, but Hawke always encouraged her to speak her mind.
"I understand Lady Hawke has been missing for several days now."
"Don't worry yourself too much, like I told him," he shoots a glance at the white haired elf's sour face, "She's probably run off to help some poor sod, and we'll find her grinning and with the adoration of a small village at her back, or something."
"Or something," Fenris echoes, and it is very apparent that he does not believe this is the case. It seems Varric does not truly believe this is the case either, if the look on his face is anything to go by.
"Are you always this pessimistic?" Varric frowns at him. Galahad wanders over the the elf and sits at his feet. Orana knows the only other person he does that to is the Lady.
"Messeres!" Bodahn says, a touch of anxiety in his usually jovial voice. "I take if you've found nothing of Lady Hawke."
"Hide nor hair," he says with a shake of his head. "She wasn't with Fenris, hasn't been to the Hanged Man, hasn't been to see any one as far as I can tell-"
"Bird Man!" Sandal yells, making his presence known. Everyone turns to him, to see he is pointing to Hawke's study.
"Bird Man?" Varric echoes, brows raised.
"Oh, my boy has quite the imagination, I'm afraid. He dreams up all sorts of things, scary old ladies and horrors in the woodshed and what have you. Go along now Sandal." The boy looks mildly hurt to have been ignored. "Bird Man!" he insists.
Orana has heard him say that before- Anders! He must be talking about the Lady's friend! Fenris is talking now, low and angry sounding, and she's afraid to interrupt him, but she gathers her courage and speaks.
"I think he means Anders."
All eyes in the room swivel to her. "Bird Man!" Sandal agrees triumphantly.
"Is he saying what I think he's saying? Hawke went to go see Anders?" Varric crosses his arms.
"To the boats! Fire letter enchantment."
"Docks," Fenris translates. "Why would Anders want to see her at the Docks in the middle of the night?"
"And what is 'fire letter enchantment'?" Orana bites her lip. She's not sure she's correct about her hunch as far as the letter, but holding back information could mean the Lady's death. She can't imagine allowing that to happen, not after what the lady had done for her.
"My mistress- former mistress- Hadriana," she begins, and sees Fenris's fists clench, "She used to send letters that would burn themselves after the intended recipient had read them."
"So what I'm getting here is Hawke got a letter from Anders that told her to go to the Docks, and then it burned itself up," Varric reiterates, disbelief evident on his face.
"Clever. Leave no evidence," Fenris adds, not sounding very praising despite his words. "He is fully capable of such magic."
"Alright, we'll go talk to him, see what's going on."
"I knew the mage was involved in this. I knew one day he would go too far." Fenris is growing more agitated by the moment, eyes darkening dangerously.
"We don't know anything yet, so let's not jump to conclusions. We'll go talk to him."
He grunts in acquiescence, but Orana wonders if that means anything. She had heard the conversation he and the Lady had had when they freed her from Hadriana, how he had promised not to kill her yet did anyway.
Hawke didn't blame him. And over time, she began to understand why she should not either.
They leave, and Galahad barks sadly at the door as it closes behind them. Orana pets his head comfortingly, and returns to the laundry, silently asking Andraste to protect her.
Author's Note: Still with me guys? If you're enjoying the story, please leave a review and tell me! And if you aren't, leave a review anyway! I'm open to comments and criticism. Next up: Anders getting into trouble, as per the usual.