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A Reunion of Sorts

She turned as well and caught sight of a dark haired girl a few feet away. She tucked her bangs behind her ear as she looked over at them. She was flanked by two other people it seemed, but Alice couldn't see what they looked like.

"It seems like someone wants to get your attention." The dwarf looked over at her again, a little suspicion now mixed in with the curiosity.

"Oh Varric, put the knife away." Hawke sighed, coming closer. Varric did so reluctantly, but he kept his gaze on Alice's face. Alice tried to regain her composure, straightening her clothes and clearing her throat. Hawke stood before her now, with a guarded look on her face.

"May I help you?" She asked. Alice smiled and replied.

"I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. I was looking for an old, um, friend." Hawke raised an eyebrow at this.

"Well, Hawke does seem to collect people who are wanted elsewhere…" The dwarf was silenced by a short look from Hawke. Hawke returned her attention to Alice for a second before glancing around the square.

"Would you like to come inside?" She asked, a quiet smile on her face. This again, was not exactly how Alice had wanted this to go. She had hoped for a quick meeting than an escape to a tavern or something.

"I suppose." She replied and followed Hawke into the now unlocked estate.

They settled themselves in a rather fancy sitting room. Alice tried to take in her surroundings as inconspicuously as possible, but it was a bit hard not to stare. Hawke must have had a fortune to afford all of that stuff. Tea was brought out and Alice accepted it gratefully in an effort to find what she wanted to say.

"So who did you come looking for?" Hawke said after taking a sip from her tea. Alice swallowed and decided to improvise.

"Well, I heard that you have an Anders in your… employ?" She grimaced inwardly at the lack of grace in her sentence. Hawke's eyes narrowed.

"And what do you need from him?"

"I just wanted to check in. It's been a while since I last saw him and I… wanted to catch up." Alice hoped it didn't sound too suspicious.

"Uh-huh. And you aren't with the Templars?" Alice laughed out loud. It didn't seem to convince Hawke.

"Oh, Maker no. They've never done me any favors."

"Is there a name I should send?" Hawke stood, looking at Alice for an answer.

"Just say that I know him from Amaranthine." A shadow passed across Hawke's eyes as she nodded and left the room. Alice adjusted her position in the chair, getting ready for a long wait. That's always how things worked in the court, so she expected no less from Hawke. Instead, the door opened a few moments later. Alice looked up and met Anders' gaze for a moment before he turned to leave the room again.

"Wait! Anders!" Alice jumped up and rushed out after him. Hawke, Varric and a woman wearing guardsmen armor looked up in surprise as they exited the sitting room.

"I won't come back with you." Anders said, making for the door out of the estate.

"You don't have to come back." He turned slightly, looking at her with undisguised loathing.

"Then why are you here?" Alice stopped in the middle of the room, almost at a loss.

"I wanted to check in. See how you were."

"Why should you care?" The hostility was palpable. Their audience watched with interest, almost like it was a duel.

"Come on Anders, we were friends once. I thought you were dead," Alice gestured at him a little hopelessly. "Obviously you faked it. Again." Anders turned to face her in full, crossing his arms across his chest.

"What do you want then, if you aren't here to collect me?"

"I wanted to, I don't know; tell you that you're all set. I won't pursue you. Not that you really needed that I suppose." She smiled. "You seemed to have settled down, let yourself get a life." He seemed unimpressed. Alice blew out her breath.

"What happened to you Anders? You were so much fun back in Amaranthine. Your humor had an uncanny resemblance to Alistair's…" She pinched the bridge of her nose. Varric stirred, his eyes bright.

"Blondie has his fair share of problems these days." Anders glared at him, while Alice merely looked in his direction. "You know, Justice and—"

"Shh!" Anders hissed.

"Justice? Oh, I suppose for mages and all that." Alice waved it away. "You have to let that go." He frowned.

"But about this Alistair you mentioned…" Varric began.

"Varric !" Hawke said, slapping his arm.

"Anything else?" Anders said, eyebrows raised.

"Just… good luck I suppose. Enjoy your freedom. And lighten up I guess. I never expected you to end up like this, you were so… what's the word… lively in Amaranthine. Get that back." Alice shrugged. "Find another cat." She smiled at this last comment, though it died on her lips as she took in Ander's expression.

"I appreciate your concern, your Majesty," he said quietly, "but I'm doing fine. Now, if you'll excuse me." He inclined his head and left. Alice sighed and turned away from the audience behind her. All was quiet for a little while.

"You're the Queen of Ferelden, aren't you?" Varric asked, excitement barely contained in his voice. Alice turned, a slight smile on her lips.

"I suppose my cover is blown now so… your statement would be correct." Then she looked at Hawke. "Do you have anything to drink here?" Hawke nodded and moved off into a different room.

"You're going to regret telling him that." The woman who appeared to be a guard said. "He likes to tell stories."

"And this will be the best of all! The Queen of Ferelden attempts to break in to the Champion of Kirkwall's estate! She meets with a moody mage and they have a passionate discussion that hints at a romantic past." Alice snorted at this. His face fell for a second before he turned to the woman.

"By the way Aveline, how did none of your guardsmen catch the lovely queen? I thought they were better trained than that." Aveline frowned and stepped around the dwarf. She approached Alice, a hand extended.

"Your Majesty, I am guard Captain Aveline Vallen. This is an immense pleasure." Alice smiled kindly and shook the extended hand.

"Please, just call me Alice. All of that formality might make me gag." Varric chuckled while Aveline inclined her head.

"You seem incredibly like your husband, Alice. Would it be wrong of me to ask so soon about your—"

"Varric!" Hawke scolded. She gave Alice an apologetic look. "Here," She handed Alice what looked to be a glass of wine. "I don't have anything stronger in the house."

"The Hanged Man has a wide variety of strong drink." Varric chimed in as Alice drained the glass. "If we go there I could get the whole story of you and your husband's…" Hawke's look caused Varric to trail off. "Fine, fine. I'll get the story later." He pouted. Hawke looked with concern at Alice.

"Do you have a place to stay?" Alice shrugged.

"I was going to stay at the tavern." Hawke frowned. Varric perked up at hearing this.

"Well in that case, I'll show you the way. It's getting late and I'm sure you could use a good rest." He walked to the door. Hawke held up a hand.

"Why don't you stay here, at least for tonight?" Alice considered for a moment. Then she shook her head.

"No, you don't need to go through the trouble."

"It's no trouble." Alice saw Varric deflate out of the corner of her eye. Then he straightened up.

"Stay here." He said honestly. Alice considered him, trying to find his angle. "Hawke is a bit lonely since her mother died." Hawke cleared her throat at this statement. "Besides, I'll be here bright and early tomorrow. I have an interview with the Queen of Ferelden." He winked before leaving. Alice turned back to the two women before her.

"I guess that means I'll be staying here." She smiled. Hawke's face brightened. She turned to Aveline.

"Stay for dinner?" Aveline seemed to agonize over the question.

"Donnic will be expecting me but… All right. It's been a while since we've had a good chat." She looked over at Alice. "And how can I pass up some gossip with the Queen of Ferelden?" The women chuckled as Hawke led them to the dining room.