For someone unused to wagons, Lady Harriman's prediction turned out to be remarkably accurate. Three days, in which Hawke had lost track of the number of times a voice in his head had screamed that this was without doubt the most insane plan he'd ever gone along with. As it turned out, one less time than Hawke had been able to counter that that was why it might just work. And that for once, he wanted to take the path of least resistance. Sudden departures seemed likely to cause problems; he suspected that it genuinely hadn't occurred to Lady Harriman at the time that summarily transporting citizens halfway across the city-state might be disruptive to whatever employment they'd had. He'd made a point of 'sending messages' the first night they'd halted to tell Matthias Hale's associates of 'unavoidable delays'. The rest of the journey had been spent busily pulling truth into lies concerning just who Matthias Hale was; Varric would have been proud. /And if I make it out of this entire mess without my carcass decorating a gibbet somewhere in Starkhaven, your 'master of bullshit' crown will be gaining a new owner./
-o-o-
Ignoring whether it was a good idea or not Hawke had been out of the wagon and walking with the rest of the guard the following day. He may have been spoilt by practically on tap magical healing in Kirkwall but Lady Harriman's healing supplies were definitely high quality, not snake oil and herbs. Plus he had a reputation to maintain- well, create. Over three days he'd managed to spin enough tales about monsters faced during the Blight to avoid having to reveal too much about Matthias Hale's recent past in Starkhaven; most of them creatively cooked up from events in Kirkwall. He never mentioned being at Ostagar; that truth and its memories remained private. There'd been an awkward "Sorry I got you trampled by a horse" moment with Rodain, who was the lucky recipient of much (mostly) good-natured ribbing about 'excessive wagoning', and promises that many rounds would be owed. The general agreement reached was that a broken leg beat being on a blood mage's menu any day. Harriman's men had stories too, mostly involving the human sort of monster. The recent cross-border politics had made Lady Harriman a high profile target and several parties had not been shy in their attempts to curry favour with the newly returned scion of the Vael family. They'd seen plenty of action, and they had betrayal scars of their own.
-o-o-
At midday of the second day after their arrival in Starkhaven one Matthias Hale was summoned to the presence of his Grace Prince Sebastian Vael. So, time to find out how much you believe in this tale you're telling Hawke. Enough to make it true for the time it takes to tell it?
-o-o-
There was a look in the prince's eyes as Hawke entered that would have made him nervous, even had he not been adopting the stance of the somewhat nervous citizen who had somehow attracted the attention of the powers that be. There had been anger the first time they'd met, undercut with uncertainty, although Vael had rarely allowed it to show. Then he'd been a man caught between two paths, forced down a road he had fought to leave behind and not knowing if the outcome would be worth the price. Hawke had remembered that all too well from the first year in Kirkwall. If Sebastian's anger had eased somewhat with finding out the truth behind his family's murders the uncertainty had remained. Knowing the facts didn't stop the questions that came in the witching hour. Now however, the fury that had ignited again amidst the ruins of the chantry lit the eyes of a man with a purpose; two former paths now serving one goal. Hawke was uncomfortably aware that a share of that look concerned him. /Luckily for you then, Hale, that tonight that person is not here/. Would Anders recognise, or even care, what he had drawn from this man?
-o-o-
Vael hadn't offered him a seat; that was fine. For conversations longer than a minute parade rest was more comfortable than any chair Hawke had ever encountered in an official's office.
"Serah Hale, Lady Harriman has been most generous in her recommendation of you."
"The Lady is too kind Your Grace; I simply helped how I could. As I'm sure any man would have."
"A surprising faith in your fellow man, even if blood mages had not been involved. Many men would fear to stand against such an enemy, and for a stranger."
"When I was a soldier your Grace, it wasn't often your own you were protecting. Lot of prayers got sent hoping someone was doing for your family what you were doing for theirs. As for blood mages, I've seen more than I ever want to of the monsters that crawl up from below and their spellslingers. The human ones, they die easier."
Vael nodded in acknowledgement "Often true, and certainly the Marches should be thankful that we were spared the suffering of the Blight. Yet I fear in the days to come that the world will learn that sometimes it is the human monster that is the least expected, and the most dangerous." A memory flickered in his eyes for a moment. Hawke focused on darkspawn; not wanting his eyes to reveal how much of the last several days he had spent trying to avoid that same question. After a moment the prince resumed "How long have you been in the Free Marches?"
-o-o-
The next few hours involved an interrogation that Aveline and possibly the late Matthias Hale himself would have been impressed at. Even with three days 'rehearsal' Hawke frequently had to trust that his brain would remember later what he'd said as the character of Matthias Hale was examined in a depth he hadn't even remotely considered.
Three years in the Marches, all in Starkhaven. Eight years in the army, been out a year before I came here. During the Blight (At least these were now more familiar untruths) I served at White River under Bann Reginelda, and, at the end, at Denerim. After, well there were fewer darkspawn but the rebuilding years weren't easy; a lot of actual building through Oswin and River Dane. I met my wife there. Demon's teeth, how did Varric do this every day? Getting by in Kirkwall for Hawke had generally involved less subterfuge and more sarcasm and invitations of violence.
/You're out of practice Hawke, think of those glorious early smuggler days./
/Those lies involved fewer justifications of supposed life choices and weren't to someone planning a personal vendetta against my former life./
/So that just makes it more exciting, right?/
-o-o-
"What do you believe on the question of mages, Serah Hale?"
The sudden change of direction threw Hawke momentarily, and brought yet more unwanted reflections. "I've met few that were human, they seemed to live well enough within the Circle; maybe all of our beliefs will change by the time this trouble is over your Grace. But I have nothing to say to blood mages; or those who murdered innocents at Kirkwall. What matters now is to finish what they've brought to us." /Is this lying business getting any easier yet?/
The news on recent events in Kirkwall? The Chantry had been destroyed. The Grand Cleric, Knight Commander, First Enchanter all dead. The mages were in rebellion. And all rumours mentioned the Champion but none of them agreed. The 'what's weren't the biggest danger, it was the 'why's. The questions weren't aggressive but they were relentless; Vael's eyes on him, watching, assessing not just the skills but the man in front of him.
-o-o-
"What will history say of Teyrn Loghain?"
An easier opinion to voice at least; "Loghain was a traitor; good men threw their lives away at Ostagar, men who were needed."
"You make no mention of Ostagar Serah, did you serve there?"
"No your Grace. We, marched too late." It took everything Hawke had to keep his voice even in denial, asking the ghosts to forgive him for what he'd done with their truth.
"Yet you served Loghain during the Blight."
"We tried to serve Fereldan; there was enough that needed salvaging apart from what was happening at the capital."
"What brought you to the Marches?"
"A year after I left service I…lost my wife. A fever. There was nothing for me there any longer."
"And now your new home finds itself at war what are your intentions, would you take up service again?"
"The borderland isn't what you'd call stable, I've no doubt we'll need every soldier you send. But…armies can't be everywhere; many will want to protect their own as well. We'll fight as we're needed to send any trouble back where it came from. With respect though your Grace; this seems a lot of trouble to put yourself to for one more soldier."
-o-o-
Vael's lip quirked in the briefest of smiles "There are more efficient recruiting methods no doubt. And it will not be the only way to fight in this war. How much do you know of Starkhaven's recent…history?"
Not good. Hawke had no idea just how much of the truth about who had been behind the Vaels' murders was now common knowledge. "I know of the death of your family your Grace; I'm sorry."
"And of those responsible?"
Arse. "Rumours only." the silence was clearly waiting to be filled with details. Ante up and hope then. "A family in Kirkwall. The Harrimans; supposedly."
The prince's eyes narrowed slightly "You hear many rumours Serah."
"A lot of talk travels fast close to the border, even if most of it's not worth knowing. My experience, it's what you don't know that gets you killed."
"You are aware whose wagon brought you through Starkhaven's gates."
"If justice had been waiting for her at Starkhaven your Grace it seemed likely you would have known about it before she did. She made no secret of her travel or visiting plans. Taking action against someone who saved my life on the word of a rumour seemed…rash."
The prince regarded him consideringly in silence, weighing the words of the last few hours while Hawke held his best "respectfully unfazed while on guard duty despite your efforts to distract me sarge" look. It had proved useful in meetings with the Viscount when the property damage or casualty list had been especially high. For some reason right now the current plan seemed even more stupid than at any other time he'd stopped to consider it. After a long moment Vael seemed to reach a decision.
-o-o-
"The rumours you speak of are true Serah Hale, as is your intuition. Lady Harriman is innocent of involvement in her family's actions; she is here at my request. And you are right I did not call you here merely to ask for your service in the military. The crimes committed in Kirkwall have left the city in chaos, without leadership, and you have seen for yourself how quickly the rebellion is spreading. We face war beyond and within our borders and my cousin's rule has left us, poorly prepared. Starkhaven must be united if we are to take up the task the Maker has laid upon us and offer any manner of justice to Kirkwall. While our Circle has remained relatively under control the Templar Order will find their resources and resolve sorely tested in the months to come. The city must be an example for our people to look to and I require someone that I can trust to maintain order in the city who understands the true nature of the threat we face. Therefore Matthias Hale I ask you to serve as Captain of the Guard of Starkhaven."
-o-o-
It wasn't completely unexpected although a large part of Hawke still couldn't believe the entire charade had actually gone this far. Right; unfazed. He wondered if there was still an option to back out of this. "You wish to give that role to an outsider, a former Fereldan, who- beg your pardon your Grace- has not yet visited the capital?"
Vael gestured to the office's interior "Yet here you are; I have faith in your ability to learn quickly. No man knows when or where he may be called upon; all he can do is answer when he is needed."
/Screw the crown. Varric, when you write this up I want royalties. All the royalties./
"Then, I am honoured to accept, your Grace."
Author's notes: Ah, awkward job interviews with people who don't realise they want to kill you. Also, I'm only partway through a playthrough of DA2 with Sebastian in the party, so his dialogue's still kind of a work in progress. Comments, criticisms, flames all welcome.