Hello again. This is turning into an update-a-year type of thing. I'm so sorry. Life hasn't given me very much time to work on this and my memory is bad so when I do remember, I promptly forget. I'm really hoping that I can work on this more frequently in the future, so bear with me if you're still around!

I own nothing. Bioware owns all.

Enjoy!

Just to Be Safe

They emerged into the early afternoon sunlight and Hawke strode purposefully off towards the Chantry. Alice felt her excitement level rise the closer they got to the building. Would she meet the dashing prince of Starkhaven again? Then Hawke took a sharp left towards more mansions. Apparently not. Unless the prince had his own mansion… They stopped in front of a dilapidated sort of mansion and Hawke knocked. After a short pause, she opened the door and entered. Alice followed a little warily, looking around her and taking stock of exits and rooms, spaces for someone to lie in wait to jump her. They didn't get too far into the mansion before a tall figure materialized out of the darkness in front of them. He was slim and muscular, tattoos running all across his exposed skin.

"Fenris. Are you ready to go?" He nodded solemnly. Hawke turned around, making eye contact with Alice for a moment before leaving the mansion. Alice looked this Fenris up and down before following Hawke out. He didn't budge from where he stood as Hawke left and he held himself as if he were on edge, ready to fight at any moment. It unsettled Alice, but she dealt with it and focused on following Hawke out into the streets and plazas of Kirkwall. They back tracked to the Chantry and Alice felt her hopes begin to rise again. Would the prince be picked up now? But Hawke marched right past the stairs that led to the Chantry and headed for some other stairs that led to a far darker and sinister place.

"So is this all part of the tour?" Alice asked as they continued downward into murky darkness. She could barely make out Hawke's shrug.

"I wanted to pick up some people before we went touring. Just to be safe." Alice couldn't really argue with that when they were in a dingy, creepy tunnel. They emerged into a grubby sort of square lined with beggars.

"Welcome to Darktown. This is where most of the Ferelden refugees end up when they come here." Hawke looked straight ahead as she said this, fixating on their destination. Alice couldn't help but stare. This is what became of her people, their people? There had to be some type of solution for this, some way to help these people out of their impoverished state.

"How did you get out?"

"What?"

"How did you get out of Darktown?" Hawke's shoulders seemed to tighten up at Alice's question.

"I smuggled." Hawke said bluntly. Alice was taken aback.

"Excuse me?"

"Officially it was indentured servitude. One year. I worked for a smuggler. That's how I got out of here. Stayed out is more accurate I suppose. Gamlen was… kind enough to house our family for a while." Hawke's voice was pained. Alice couldn't believe it.

"So these people have two choices: crime or begging?" Hawke didn't answer the question. "Maybe I should make this an official visit." Alice grumbled to herself. Hawke had stopped outside of a small building with lanterns hanging by the door. She rapped on the door and waited. The door opened and a mage slipped through, gently closing the door behind him. He turned around and Alice's stomach fell. Anders. His expression told the story that he was feeling the same thing. His gaze flew to Hawke.

"You can't be serious."

"I need my best to guard her, so yes I'm serious. You're our healer. I need you for this." Hawke's tone left no room for argument. Anders's face was still cloudy, but he came over and stood by Alice anyway.

"I'd rather be guarding her than simply travelling with the mutt." He muttered under his breath.

"What did you say, mage?" The elf snarled from behind them.

"It's not your concern." Anders retorted sparing a glance for Alice before Hawke led them away from Anders's home. They emerged back up in the Chantry plaza when Hawke stopped. She looked up at the imposing building, biting her lip. Alice knew the prince was bound to join them soon. Alice willed Hawke to walk up those steps and grab the prince and bring him with them on their adventure. Instead, Hawke led them in the opposite direction, through all of Hightown into Lowtown. Alice recognized some of the buildings from her trip up through Kirkwall. They navigated their way through a bustling plaza to what appeared to be a pub. It was packed, even though it wasn't that late in the day. Hawke disappeared from sight soon after they entered the bar and Alice made a move to follow but Anders held her back.

"You don't want to get mixed up in that crowd," he said. Alice glanced around and couldn't help but agree. She couldn't spot a single friendly face or familiar head in the bar. Anders's grip on her arm slipped down to her wrist. She stilled as his fingers brushed against her palm. He led her toward the actual bar, pushing the patrons aside with his free hand. Alice kept her breathing steady, trying not to focus on the feeling of his hand on her wrist. When he reached the bar, he dropped her wrist and ordered a pint. Alice just stood there, not knowing exactly what happened next; Hawke was lost in the crowd.

"Did we really come here to drink?" She asked Anders as she waved the barman over. He shook his head, mid-sip. He gestured to something in the middle of the bar; she couldn't make out what it was because it was surrounded by people.

"I'm guessing Hawke came to get Isabela," he said. Alice didn't reply, choosing to try the contents of her tankard. She grimaced slightly and decided it could have been worse. Then she coughed and dragged a hand across her mouth, ignoring the way Anders's head whipped around and the amount of concern on his face as he studied her to make sure she was still breathing.

"Then why are we here?" She patted the scarred and stained counter. Anders shrugged, turning back to look at the mob of people at the middle of the bar.

"I wanted a drink," he said nonchalantly. Alice narrowed her eyes at the back of his head before shifting her attention to the center of the room. Some of the people had filtered away and she could make out the shock of white hair that belonged to the elf and Hawke's dark hair. Hawke looked to be in an argument of some sort with the woman who was seated at the table, boots propped up by a bottle of ale. The woman looked slightly familiar, the way she held herself as she laughed off something that Hawke had said. That tan skin, the bangles hanging from the woman's arm, the daggers strapped to her back… What was so familiar? She filed through her memories when it hit her. The Pearl. Zevran and this woman were quite friendly when they had seen each other. Alice had wanted an introduction and…

"Isabela." Alice said under her breath with an edge to her voice. Anders turned slightly, looking at her out of the corner of his eye.

"You know her?" He asked. Alice sulked, taking a gulp from her mug and then grimaced.

"I met her during the Blight. She robbed me blind in Wicked Grace before I caught on to the fact that she was cheating." She pinched her nose and closed her eyes at the memory. Anders chuckled at her expression. "I'd like to see you do better." Alice replied, taking another swig from her mug.

"Oh, I don't do any better." Anders smiled at her then turned and set his mug back on the bar. The corners of her mouth quirked up in an almost smile; the Old Anders was beginning to show through a little bit.

"We best be off, Hawke won't like that I've stopped for a drink." Anders muttered and glanced behind Alice. She looked back at where Hawke and Isabela had been, but the table was empty.

"This way." Anders said, leading her through the mob of people to the door again. Hawke was standing by the entry, looking a bit annoyed when they emerged from the crowd.

"Well you've started early," she said with a pointed look at Anders. He ducked his head. She turned her attention to Alice.

"This should be enough people." She looked around her little group with affection, a smile pulling at her lips. "Now, let's show you all the wonders of Kirkwall."