"Honestly, I don't know why I ever thought it was a good idea to bring you along" Anders announced just as Varric had finished up his latest round of teasing that had come complete with the batting eyelashes and kissy lip gestures.

"Ah, come on Blondie, you know you love me. I'm just so personable everybody does, it's a given!" the dwarf smoothly replied.

Ander's only response was to roll his eyes and aim a flimsy kick at the dwarf's backside almost knocking him into a huge bear of a man walking in front of them in the process.

"Hey watch it, I want to live to see another day!" the dwarf exclaimed as the man in question looked back at them with a suspicious glare.

Varric with his high sense of self preservation quickly and surreptitiously tried pointing a finger in Ander's general direction while mouthing the words "It was him!" for an added measure of security but only succeeded in causing the man to shoot them both a dirty look before moving off.

"Thanks Varric" Anders said with heavy sarcasm. "I really hope that he doesn't turn out to be the metal smith here."

Anders had awoken early that morning and had quietly snuck out of Hawke's bedroom with a mission to accomplish, stopping only long enough to grab Varric from his rooms at the tavern before proceeding to the market with only one destination in his mind, at least in Anders' mind. In Varric's mind there were two, going to the market with Anders and then heading back to the Hanged Man for a well deserved beer, one he was sure he could talk the mage into buying him for his help today.

They resumed their journey down to the far end of the crowded market, the closer they got the faster Anders started walking in his haste to get there. As he rounded the final corner ahead of Varric, he was relieved to see that the metal smith and the huge man they had managed to aggravate only moments before were not one and the same. It was a dwarf who owned this stall, his eyes instantly lighting up as he took in Anders somewhat nervous air combined with the dippy half smile that played at the mages lips. After many years of making and selling jewelry, the dwarf knew this look. Here was a man that was hopelessly in love and was setting out for his first attempt at buying jewelry for the lady. "I'll make a fortune on this sale!" the dwarf chuckled under his breath, rubbing his hands together with glee until he spotted Varric running over in an effort to catch up to his friend.

"Makers breath, not all of us have legs as long as you do, Blondie!" the dwarf panted at Anders as he attempted to catch his breath.

"Sorry" Anders managed before his attention turned completely to the intricately designed pieces that were displayed before him on a length of black velvet. He knew exactly what he was looking for, but he had brought Varric along to ensure he would get a good deal in the process. Varric cleared his throat with exaggerated importance and strode forward to trot out the very important dwarf skill of bargaining.

"My friend here wants to gift his lady friend with a fine piece of jewelry and I'm here to make sure he gets a good deal" the dwarf announced to the metal smith.

Anders in the meantime had been pouring over the selection, drawn to one item in particular,in much the same way a jackdaw would be attracted to a shiny object. It was a gold ring, small and beautifully made, just the thing a man in love would want to give a woman. He kicked Varric hard on the foot as he jerked his head in the direction of the ring.

"There, that's what I want" he muttered to him in a way that he thought would be completely inconspicuous to the dwarf behind the counter.

It was Varric's turn to roll his eyes. "I'll handle this, just go amuse yourself over there for awhile ok, Blondie?" Varric fingered the pouch of money that had been entrusted to him that morning, as he thought up his strategy for buying the ring at a good discount. He set to work. Several hours later, as bargaining between dwarves was a very long and tedious process, Varric strolled around the corner to where Anders had retreated carrying a small black velvet box containing the ring.

"Here Blondie, I got you a really good deal on it, now let's say we go get a drink or two before you go to give it to her" the dwarf said as he set off in the direction of the Hanged Man hoping that Anders and his coin purse would be following close behind.