Evelyn had to clear her throat from the ball that had formed when she learned who their new friend really was. "Well, I feel like an idiot."
"Don't, I try to keep it hidden to avoid attention." Garrett Hawke said, before looking back to Varric. "So, remind me again, why are you at the Conclave of all places? I thought you were staying in Kirkwall to clean up the mess."
"I was blackmailed into it by this seeker, looking for you. Apparently she needs your help." Varric's voice had an inkling of guilt in it for having to lure his friend all the way into the Frostbacks, so whatever this seeker had on him must have been good.
"It's a good thing the Divine cleared me of any wrong doing in the Chantry explosion then, but being an apostate still puts a target on my back, so I hope this is worth it." Evelyn regarded Hawke, curious as to what really happened in Kirkwall. Evelyn had only heard rumors mostly, valiant tales of the Champion of Kirkwall defying Knight-Commander Meredith's insane plan to eradicate all mages in the city.
"You two look like you want an explanation. Here, let's sit down." Varric gestured the group to a table and they all sat.
"Since you're so well versed in telling my story, you might as well have at it, Varric." Hawke shrugged, knowing his best friend was all too eager to talk about his friends exploits.
"I am after all, your authorized biographer!" Varric held a hand to his chest in pride, completely serious.
"Yes, Varric, I said please write down my life so I can never get a day's rest without screaming fangirls clamoring after my roguish good looks." Garrett laughed but let him continue regardless. And as if on cue, two village girls could be seen whispering and giggling to each other with the name Hawke on their lips! Evelyn rolled her eyes.
"Any ways, everyone knew Meredith was a raving lunatic, but that didn't matter since she had all but seized control of Kirkwall. Hawke, having the reputation he had, was able to rally enough support, even within the templar ranks to stand against her. The Chantry knew of his popularity, and for once had enough sense about them to not blame Hawke for the events that followed, when they launched their investigation."
"Just like that? I have a hard time believing the Chantry didn't want to scapegoat you." Evelyn said cynically, knowing they would have wanted to keep their hands clean and avoid having to take responsibility themselves. Max looked like he didn't want to believe it, as naive as he could be when it came to the Chantry.
"They would have, if Meredith hadn't gone mad on red lyrium. That's their own fault, they are the ones controlling the leash that keeps templars tethered to the Chantry. Even they couldn't deny that." Hawke's tone turned serious, remembering how horrific events took place that forced him to leave Kirkwall and get away from it all.
"And now you're here, at the Divine's own meeting to end this conflict between mages and templars." Evelyn crossed her arms and looked at the mage. "That's rather ironic." She held back from wagging a teasing eyebrow at him, as he would have done the same to her.
"Ah, that is rather funny, how that works out. Maybe it was fate." His bright hazel eyes pierced hers for a long moment before Varric awkwardly coughed and broke it off.
"Yes, it is. Well, now that we've got that out of the way, any one care for a drink?" Evelyn motioned the barmaid over and exhaled a tired sigh. "I'm parched."
"My lady, you read my mind!" And there was that flirtatious wink again Hawke gave Evelyn, this time she ignored it. She didn't have time for flirting, she wanted to get this whole thing over with so she could escort her brother back to Ostwick and finally take her vacation in Rivain.
"Ev, since when do you drink?" Max never saw his sister drink other than the occasional wine.
"What? Mother and Father aren't around Maxie." The drinks arrived, the trio gratefully sipped at their ales, but Max's remained untouched.
"You three have fun with that, I'm going to the Chantry." Max rose and began to leave.
"Have it your way. More for me." Hawke slid the abandoned mug next to his, not one to waste good alcohol.
The next couple of hours went by fast as Evelyn exchanged stories with Varric and Hawke to pass time. It was true that Evelyn found Hawke to be very attractive, but she reminded herself she wasn't interested in looking for anything in the romance department. She had had enough of her mother trying to set her up with nobles from various city-states in the Free Marches. Varric passed out after the third hour of drinking; who knows how many drinks he had prior to the group arriving, leaving Evelyn and Hawke to talk one on one for once.
"So, have any plans after this whole shindig is over?" Hawke idly asked, showing interest in Evelyn when he could have been doing anything else. She scoffed to herself at the idea of the village girls taking up his free time.
"I'm going to Rivain. I want to see these village seers I've heard of, and I've been trying to get my hands on their tea, but I couldn't get a shipment out to Ostwick."
"Tea, sounds very interesting." He smiled when she didn't catch on at first that he found that dreadfully boring.
"You jest now, but if I get my hands on the recipe and ingredients, you'll be in heaven when you taste it." Evelyn shifted in her seat and leaned her elbows on the table, not intentionally meaning to draw him in, but it did.
"Oh, is that correct? Maybe I would try some of your tea." Leaning forward, Hawke caught a stray lock of her brown hair and tucked it back behind her ear, but the moment was ruined by Varric's loud snoring. Evelyn pulled back and smiled.
"Maybe. Should I expect to see the great Champion at the talks tomorrow?"
"I haven't decided yet. For now, I'll be catching up with Varric and avoiding this seeker that wants to talk to me." Hawke rolled his eyes at the thought of getting mixed up in Chantry business again.
"I would feel the same if I was in your shoes. My brother sees the Chantry as this ideal on a shining pedestal, but people like us know better."
"People like us? Are you hiding a staff I don't know about?" Hawke angled his eyebrow at her, "Yes, that's it! You're a mage in disguise!"
"Hey now, if it wasn't for normal people like me, mages would have no support at all." She sipped at her mug, ignorant to the fact that comment ruffled Hawke.
"Oh, I see. Well, on behalf of all abnormal people, we're terribly sorry to bother you all with our inconvenient nature!" Hawke slammed his mug down, tired of always having defend innocent mages to people who didn't understand it wasn't their fault they were born with magic.
"What I miss?" Varric rose his head up in a fog from his deep sleep after the mug startled him. Evelyn suddenly felt very guilty for her words.
"Shit, sorry. I didn't realize-" She quickly spoke up before Hawke interrupted her with a laugh.
"I'm just pulling your leg! Maker, if I always got this easily offended by things people say about mages, this lovely head of hair would be gray by now." Evelyn turned red then, but rather than accept embarrassment, she threw a punch at Hawke's arm. But she couldn't keep her angry facade up, it broke into a smile towards Hawke's charm.
"Ouch!" He rubbed at his bicep like he was wounded. "Evelyn Trevelyan, you throw a mean punch."
"It can be harder next time if you like." She smiled sweetly at him.
"Hawke, I think Aveline would love her. Maybe we can get her to take a vacation from the guard and they can let off some steam on you, ha!" Varric hiccuped and passed back out on the table.
"Don't get any ideas from him. Keeping Aveline at bay from pommeling this face was hard enough, but two strong women? The Maker only gave me so much luck in this world."
"You think rather highly of yourself." Evelyn regarded him and shyly looked away when those hazel eyes stared intently back.
"I'm just a confident man. Is something wrong with that? You seem confident in yourself." Hawke looked at his passed out friend. "Here, let's get him into a bed. Join me?"
"I can't argue with that. Sure." They rose from the table, Evelyn could feel the alcohol's effects coursing through her veins, she resisted it.
"Huh? Where we going?" Varric slurred as Hawke hauled him over his shoulder.
"Preferably away from any hard surfaces." Hawke grunted under the weight of the dwarf, making sure he didn't hit his head as they walked out of the tavern.
When they settled Varric in at the local inn, Evelyn and Hawke noticed the sun was setting.
"Well then...I should go find my brother and get a place to lay my head for the night." Evelyn rubbed her hands over her arms as the cold temperature started to set in.
"Right, well I'll probably see you around tomorrow. Good night, Evelyn." Her name rolled off his lips, and as she watched his lips form the words, a chill crept down Evelyn's arms that made her wonder if it wasn't just the low temperature that caused it.
"Good night, Garrett." They nodded to each other and went their separate ways. As Evelyn walked towards the Chantry, thoughts of Hawke played out. Who was this man, really? And why was he more interested in talking, much less flirting with her when he could be doing that with any one? And why did she even care? Evelyn pondered these things as she ate dinner with her brother that night, before settling into a cot and wondering what tomorrow would bring.