We made our way through Hightown towards the Viscount Keep. Why they let me lead I have no idea. Carver should know by now that my sense of direction is the stuff of legends.
"You know Junior, it's eerie how much you two resemble each other." Varric said to Carver as we neared the keep.
"She's my sister, of course there's a resemblance." Carver replied.
"Oh, you thought I was talking about Hawke, I meant Gamlen." Varric snorted.
"You know, he has a point there." I added.
"Maker, I hate you dwarf." I heard Carver sigh.
We climbed the stairs up to the courtyard, ran through the courtyard, and ran up more stairs to the keep.
As much as I hated getting here, I had to admit: that door is shiny.
I lowered my gaze to my left hand for a brief second, making an 'L' with it before running up the stairs and to the right.
Can't let anyone know I'm THAT directionally impaired. That'd be bad.
We ran through the door and down the stairs and there she was: Aveline.
I was quite fond of Aveline. Throughout this year we've helped each other and kept up to date with each other, and to me she seemed like an older sister. A responsible older sister, probably someone I should strive to be. So that Carver's pride doesn't take more damage that it already has. But where's the fun in that?
"Aveline!" I said grandly throwing my arms open.
"Hello, Hawke." She replied staring at the duty roster.
"What? That's it?" I pouted.
Huh, so that's what it feels like when your older sister doesn't give you the attention you want. Duly noted. To be honest though, if it wasn't for the bulky shield on her back, I'd probably have just running jump hugged her.
She would have probably punched me for doing that though.
"What? Oh, sorry Hawke, it feels like we've just talked," Aveline said turning to me, "I've been keeping an eye on you. Information's one of the few perks of this job. Watch out for Bartrand though, he's a son of a bitch."
"Hey, Varric, is your Mom a bitch?" I asked turning towards Varric.
He gave a snort of laughter before responding with, "No."
"I guess he's not a son of a bitch then." I stated.
"Hawke, you know what I mean." Aveline frowned at me.
I snickered mentally.
"You know I don't like you having people watch me," I frowned, "it feels like you don't trust me."
"Saves me from camping on your doorstep," She shrugged, "and after what it took to get us here. Let's just say I don't want to lose track of you. With the places they have me patrolling, I've got time."
"Well then, a person in your position sounds like they'd eavesdrop some profitable work." I grinned at her.
"You know better than to ask me that." Aveline frowned again.
"One day you'll get frustrated enough to go for it." I sighed.
"I feel like I'm sitting on my hands," Aveline frowned, "Maker knows I could use some satisfying work."
"The blight's over, you could go back to Lothering," I said tilting my head to the side slightly.
"That wasn't home for me, it was just where the horde pressed us," she replied, "it wasn't the first village I saw fall, but you just don't get used to seeing people leave everything."
"I'll admit that's not how I wanted to leave." I replied solemnly.
Oh, Bethany. I tried not to think of her, of the ogre attack much. It still hurt that it was her that died and not me. Bethany was such a sweet girl, she was the best sister a girl could ever ask for. We did almost everything together, from helping Mother, learning about magic from Father, to talking about boys and other random such things. Though, I did feel a bit bad about leaving Carver out. But I doubt he'd have wanted to get involved in 'girl-talk.'
"That's the thing about growing up: you can't go home again," Aveline shrugged, "but it's not the same if you don't have the option."
"It really isn't." I frowned.
Carver and Varric apparently got bored of the conversation I was having and were chatting to each other.
Sorry Carver, but Aveline's MY older sister. You can't have her. Go get your own. Oh, wait.
"Seems like Kirkwall suits you." I said looking around the barracks.
"It's been a challenge," Aveline nodded, "lot's of opportunity, if you're the type the locals want."
"Are you?"
"If you argue enough, you kind of convince yourself." She responded.
"It's been a year now, how are you feeling about…?" I asked delicately.
"How close I hold my own memories, is my own business." She gave me that stop-babying-me look
"Being a guard must have a different pace than serving under King Cailan." I said tilting my head again.
"There's a new king for a new Ferelden. Seems cocksure, but I guess he was there when the archdemon fell, can't fault an active hand." Aveline shrugged, "the real end for me was Ostagar. What about you Carver? Did you feel that way?"
Carver jumped a bit at hearing her call his name, "No."
"All right then," Aveline said turning back to me, "Bit of a tit your brother."
"Tell me about it." I sighed.
"You know, I might just have a job for you, if you're interested." She said leaning against the wall.
"Oh?" the word job easily piqued my interest.
Then again, most things piqued my interest.
"An ambush, probably for a caravan, though I can't find any shipments that match up," she stated, "doesn't matter though, Highway men looking to rob, I'm putting a stop to it, my district or not."
"Do we have a 'who' behind this?" I asked.
"Doesn't matter, we show up, they attack, they're bad," she said, "simple as that."
"How did you get wind of this anyway?" I pursed my lips together slightly.
"I have contacts, they've been complaining, about a lack of meat – thugs and such, someone's hiring," she shrugged, "and one or two were told to be prepared for travelers. You want to be good at this job you pay attention to what's missing, and when people prepare escape routes."
"Well, sounds like fun, where are we headed?" I asked.
"I knew I could trust you," she smiled, "it's up Sundermount, remote and rough, we can save time with a short cut this side. And no, you can't go by yourself. I trust you, but I need to be there, you're acting on behalf of the guard."
"You trust me?" I asked dubiously.
"Oh shut up Hawke," she sighed, "just tell me when you're ready to head up there."
"Now sounds like a good time, not like I have anything else to do." I shrugged.
The four of us left Kirkwall and headed up Sundermount.
The trek made me hate having a wimpy mage body; luckily, I wasn't as out of shape as other mages. Living on a farm and working for mercenaries does that for you. Still doesn't mean I'm in as much shape as the other three.
Wait. Come to think of it…Why am I still leading? How have we not ended up back in Ferelden yet? What is going on? These people are crazy.
We rested for a bit as we neared the ambush site, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to run into a bunch of people who want to kill your face while you're tired after all.
Sneaking up a small hill, we could see a small group of stragglers.
And before any plan of attack was made I jumped off the hill and threw a fireball while the others scrambled to get into position to attack.
Most of them cussing at me horridly as they did so, I could feel the love.
"Do you think you could give us a bit of warning next time, Sister?" Carver glared after the fight.
"What?" I said innocently, "I did warn you!"
"When did you—"
"The fireball was my warning!"
This earned a sigh from both Carver and Aveline. Varric just gave a snort of laughter.
We cut through two more smaller groups— correction, we cut and blasted through two more smaller groups of stragglers before sneaking up a hill to see the main group.
Aveline and Carver had their hands on my shoulders to make sure I didn't jump off the hill again. Spoilsports.
"That looks like the bulk of the smugglers." Aveline said quietly.
"We'd best tread carefully." Carver said.
"Uh, guys? Where's Hawke?" Varric suddenly asked.
"Oh, Maker!" they sighed in unison.
"What?" I asked from at the bottom of the hill, "can we attack now? Yes? No? Yes? No? Yes? Well, ready or not!"
Fireball time.
They charged in before I could throw the damn thing though. I clicked my tongue. Why are they in such a hurry?
"Well equipped for bandits," Aveline said examining the bodies after the fight, "Just as well, dead is dead and the road is clear. Captain Jevan will want to hear about this. Back to the barracks for your just reward!"