There was no other way to go about it...I was going to kill Bethany. She was dead meat and there was nothing else to it. The slobbering, giant, very hyper mabari sitting on my head was the reason why. Everyone knew that you don't let Cookie in when you are sleeping, ever. He has a really bad habit of attempting to become a lap dog, which is very uncomfortable when you are sleeping. Well Bethany in her adorable fun self decided it would be an excellent morning prank to let him in to wake me up. Not...funny...at...all. I was hungover, covered in drool, and run over by a very happy mabari. Not the greatest start to my morning. I pushed Cookie off of my head, and he landed on the floor with a loud thump, huffing indignantly but still managing to wag his stubby tail at me. I patted him on the head, because it wasn't his fault after all. I threw on some clothes and stalked out to the main room, Cookie bouncing around my ankles happily, and found Beth and Mother giggling at me in the corner. I sent them the dirtiest glare I could muster with mabari drool hanging off my face and marched to the wash basin in the corner Mother came to stand behind me and attempted to stop her giggles.
"Oh my dear, we're sorry. We couldn't help it. When Beth tried to wake you and you wouldn't budge we figured this would be the easiest way. Forgive us." Oh who was I kidding, I couldn't stay mad at them.
"You know I can't stay mad at you two, and it was pretty funny." With that Mother swept me up into one of her crushing hugs and we all laughed ourselves silly, Cookie bounding in circles between all of us. It was moments like these that my family needed, moments that reminded us just how much we needed each other. But sadly moments like these were rare anymore. It was nice when we didn't have to focus on all of our loss and could just be a family again. We spent the morning just enjoying each others company, and Beth was treasuring her new gift. I had given her the portrait of Mother that I had found in the vault and like I had suspected she loved it. When Mother saw it she smiled, and told us stories behind the painting and of her engagement before she had eloped with Father. We enjoyed our morning while it lasted, but all too soon a knock on the door drew our attention. I was surprised when I opened the door and found Varric standing on the doorstep. I invited him inside and he was greeted by both Mother and Beth.
"Well if it isn't my favorite Ladies in all of Kirkwall." Both Mother and Beth giggled, and Varric just beamed. He would always be the favorite dwarf in the Hawke household.
"And to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit today Varric?" He beamed at me.
"Well Hawke..." And here I stopped him.
"Varric, how long have you known me now. Its Alice, you don't have to call me Hawke."
"Well Alice, its not that I don't wish to use your first name, its just that its become your nickname."
"How did my surname become my nickname."
"Well, dear Bethany here is Sunshine, Fenris is Broody, Isabella is Rivani...and you...are Hawke. It just fits." I sighed.
"Alright Varric you win. Hawke it is." He chuckled and continued.
"Well as I was saying. We are doing really well with our funds for the expedition, but we seem to be one Grey Warden short." I groaned.
"Oh that's right. I'm sorry Varric. With everything that has been happening lately I keep forgetting! We should get Isabella and Merrill to go with us and we should go right now."
Well hold on a second. You are not even completely dressed for the day my friend. I will go get Merrill and Isabella and meet you here so you have time to get yourself ready." I nodded, remembering that I probably still had some Cookie drool in my hair, which must be sticking straight up because I hadn't had time to do anything with it yet. And my regular clothes we're not going to be very good for fighting. Varric nodded and headed for the door letting himself out, and I set to the task of getting ready. Getting ready was much more difficult that I had originally planned. Apparently in my drunken haze the night before I had managed to loose my other leather boot, which I later found in Beth's bed. (To this day I still have no idea how it managed to get there.) Once I had finally rounded up all of my clothes and had my greatsword strapped to my back I headed back into the main room to find that everyone had arrived in my absence. Varric had a crazy way of getting things done, and quickly. Everyone exchanged pleasantries and we chatted for a bit until Varric ushered us out the door. We had a long day ahead of us, hunting down a Grey Warden wasn't going to be an easy task. Varric ushered us toward Lirene's here in Lowtown. He suspected that if anyone knew where to find a Grey Warden Lirene would. We chatted as we walked, enjoying each others company. I enjoyed all of my companions, we were all so different, and yet despite all of our differences we worked well together.
"Well here we are." Varric had walked up to a door surrounded by a bunch of Ferelden refugees, and ushered us all inside. He leaned up and wispered to me.
"That's Lirene there, behind the counter. Work your magic Hawke." He nudged me forward winking. I took a look around the room, the place was in complete chaos. The woman behind the counter that Varric had indicated was Lirene was barking orders to numerous assistance; and people were milling around attempting to gain some attention for this issue or that problem. I approached the woman, my companions staying at my back a short distance. Varric was the only one that approached with me. I cleared my throat and Lirene rounded on me, her eyes narrowed in irritation.
"If you are looking for medical assistance, leave your name with one of my assistants. We serve everyone in need of assistance here, no one came from Ferelden without difficulties. But I cannot give priority to anyone who has already found work and has a place to stay. There are too many people dying in the undercity without aid, so unless your dying..." I figured it was best to get straight to the point with this woman, she was an all business type and wouldn't appreciate me wasting her time.
"The word on the street is you know where I could find a Ferelden Grey Warden?" She gave me a mistrustful glance.
"The only Ferelden Grey Warden I know of is sitting on the throne. Anyway the Blight is no longer a threat, so why would you have need of one?" One of her assistants bustled into the conversation at this point, her eagerness to help getting the better of her.
"The healer was one of them once wasn't he? A Grey Warden I mean..." Here she broke off, the glare Lirene was giving her could have stopped a charging ogre in its tracks. She rolled her eyes before answering.
"Well he isn't one now, and he has enough on his hands without having to answer foolhardy questions about it." I knew she wasn't going to give up the information we needed easily, but I also knew bribing or persuading this woman wasn't going to work. So again I opted for the straight to the point route.
"Who are you protecting?" She stared at me, never breaking eye contact while she responded.
"You see what are people are subjected to here in Kirkwall. They have no homes, no food, no money...most of them can't even afford to buy bread. This healer is the one respite they have, he is their guardian. He serves them without any thought for coin, never asks questions and asks nothing in return." Merrill interjected.
"Then why does he feel the need to hide." Lirene turned her attention to the elf.
"He is a good man, and I will not see him lost to the bloody Templars." Ah, now it made a bit more sense.
"The healer is a mage then."
"Do you think I would stick my neck out for someone peddling snake oil?" I looked her straight in the eyes before speaking.
"Some of my own are mages my friend, I would never hand someone over to the Templars. That is no life for anyone." She smiled lightly.
"He doesn't want to be locked away in the Gallows just for using the gifts he was blessed with by the Maker." I returned her smile.
"Your healer is in no danger from me, nor any of my companions. We simply need a moment to speak with him, that is all." She sighed.
"I guess it is not my secret to keep. The healer...Anders, has certainly been free enough with his services. Refugees among Darktown know, to find the healer look for the lit lantern. If your need is great enough, you will find Anders within." With that she turned and walked away, leaving us to see ourselves out. Varric grinned at me.
"Well Hawke, you certainly have a way with people don't you." I couldn't help but smile at him.
"You know me Varric, I am a people person." My companions all chuckled at that and we all headed for the door of the humble little shop. Just before I passed through the door I noticed a small chest sitting on a table. It was a donation box and seemed to be rather lacking in the donation department. I knew I needed the coin, but there were many of my countrymen who needed it far more than I did at this moment. I reached in a deposited some coin, careful to keep exactly how much from Varric especially. Just as the coin landed in the chest I heard a voice over my shoulder causing me to turn. Lirene was gazing at me from behind the counter.
"Bless you. May the Maker watch over you." I nodded to her and ushered myself through the door to my waiting companions. Varric smiled at me knowingly and I couldn't help but blush. He had a way of knowing exactly what was going on in my head, sometimes I could swear he could read minds. We were just about to start the trek into Darktown when a group of people began to advance on us. The leader of the little group walked up and spoke to me.
"Hey, we heard you in there asking about the healer. We know what happens to mages in this town, and we are not going to let that happen to him." I sighed. Well at least we knew that we didn't have to worry about anyone getting to this man Anders before we had a chance to talk to him. He had a support system that must have encompassed the majority of Kirkwall. I glanced at Merrill, wordlessly asking her permission to have her step in if needed, and she nodded. I turned my attention back to the little group, addressing the leader.
"Do you really think we would turn him in when he is one of us?" I nodded to Merrill and she ignited a small fireball in her palm, extinguishing it just as quickly. The group gasped. "Plus we are Ferelden refugees just as you are my friends. We will not harm the healer any more than you would." The leader sighed.
"Ferelden...but with your clothes...I would have figured you for a native, and your companion. We truly are sorry. Maker bless the rule of our King Alistair." And with that he gave a small bow and the little group dispersed.
I turned and gave a small smile of thanks to Merrill and she beamed. I was glad to have the little Dalish elf in my ragtag group, she may have misguided ideals, but she was a good soul. We started the trek to Darktown, chatting merrily along the way, but once actually inside the undercity conversation between us began to quell. Even after all my time in Kirkwall the status of Darktown was still a shock to me. How anyone could live in these conditions was utterly a mystery to me, they made Gamlen's look like the Viscounts Keep. And the smell...Maker it was horrible. We fumbled around the alleyways of Darktown for awhile when Varric nudged me hard in the ribs pointing to a set of doors with a lantern hanging on one of the frames the flame burning brightly inside. I beamed at him eager to get this over with and we headed for the door. I pushed the door open and stepped inside my companions following close behind me. The room was filled with cots lining the walls and center of the room, and on one of those cots was a young boy. His family was gathered around him, and the healer stood above him blue light emanating from his palms. The healer, Anders Lirene had said his name was, had his back to us but I could tell he was in a state of intense concentration. We were watching him in awe when suddenly the boy he was so intent on sat up gasping for air. I was so caught up in watching what the healer was doing that I jumped at the sudden movement, Varric chuckling at my elbow. I shot a quick glare at him, causing him to chuckle harder. I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the scene in front of me. The family had surrounded the boy hugging him, and claping the healer on the shoulder. The man looked exhausted and his shoulders were slumped from the effort. Beth had always told me that healing took a lot out of a mage, and I felt for the man. I took a few steps toward the healer named Anders, but before I had gotten close to him the man whipped around staff raised. His voice was strong, albeit slightly panicked and tinged with a hint of something otherworldly as he spoke.
"I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation. Why do you threaten it?" He gazed right at me as I spoke...and I gasped audibly...and then...I froze.