Another chapter that got away from me... Thank you for the reviews and follows guys, hope you enjoy this chapter too!

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"…a few months passed without much event. I got better with the crossbow true, but I can't say I had much reason to use it. Bartrand was up to something, I knew that; but since the incident at the tavern he mostly kept his plans from me. At the time it was a welcome break… but now I look back… well… I wish I'd kept my ear a little closer to the ground…"

"Good work today, boy." Bellam smiled warmly, giving the young dwarf an affectionate pat on the back. "You're getting damned near as skilled as I!"

Varric returned the smile and accepted the tankard, pulling the stool away from the table as the older man took seat beside him. "I'd say so… and only in a few months… how old are you again?"

Bellam caught the intended joke before his pupil could deliver the punch line, much to the merchant's disappointment. "Aye, no fear lad. You'll surpass me that's for sure, never seen someone take to the art so naturally. If you live as long as me, I doubt there's many that could raise a candle to you."

Although self-gratification had been the avenue he'd been aiming for, the reflective, almost wistful, way in which his grey-bearded mentor praised him made him immediately uneasy. As surely as he noticed himself improve, he noticed Bellam's limitations. As he felt his strength and deftness grow, he began to notice the stiffness in Bellam's shoulders and the slowed movements of his arms. He knew that these signs could not have simply appeared recently, but he could recognise that the symptoms had worsened since their first practise. It made him feel guilty, if he were honest with himself, although he knew it was a foolishly sentimental notion. Bellam had done nothing since he had started Varric's training but instil one certainty within his young pupil: he was to make himself ready for Bianca, if ever she needed him… leaving the merchant in little doubt that his new mentor doubted his own ability to do the job.

"Way to cut the wings off my joke, Old Man." He grumbled into his ale, a vain attempt to mask his troubled thoughts.

As if reading his uneasiness with an effortless gauge, Varric received another, more supportive clap on the shoulders, and with his other hand Bellam reached for his drink. "Drink up, laddy, there's tomorrow yet to worry yourself with what might be. Now tell me of your adventures last excursion…"

"Not much to tell," Varric obediently eased himself back into his chair. "No trouble…"

"No sign of them damned Tevinters…?"

"Maybe we're being fed some duff information?" Varric agreed, sourly.

"The thought crossed my mind," the sage admitted, "but Ferdinand doesn't give 'duff information', and the latest came from him. He said he'd seen them along the Wounded Coast…"

"Then how the hell did they dodge us both…? Did they bring cliff-coloured cloaks?"

"Those Magisters are sneaky, all right. Anything else happen out there?"

"Sorry, I think I've given you all of the pertinent details."

"What can I say? Maybe I meant… different… details." The tight, amused smile and the unmistakeable twinkle in the old man's eyes left Varric in little doubt of what he was being asked.

"Oh piss off!" The merchant scowl, feeling heat immediately spread across his cheeks.

"I'm just saying…. Ya know, moonlight... alone in the wilds… huddling close to get warm…"

"Murderous mages possibly around every corner, yeah, screams romance…." He rolled his eyes in response to Bellam's obvious jibes.

"Oh! I don't know what's happening with you youngsters. When I was a lad, if you got a handsome lass like Bianca adventuring with you… in the woods… just the two of us…"

"They'd invented adventuring when you were a lad?" It was Varric's turn to smirk, though the mock seemed to do nothing to take the wind out of his mentor's sails.

"Say what you want, at least my eyes aren't so bad I can't see an opportunity like this."

"You weren't saying that at target practice the other day…" Varric erupted into laughter, delighted now that his most recent attempt at mockery had succeeded in stemming the flow of probing queries.

"The sun was shining in my eyes!" The gleeful smirk was replaced by one of bluster and embarrassment.

Bellam's retort died on his lips. He stiffened in his chair and placed the tankard in his hand firmly on the table. A small amount of the golden liquid spilled from the cup, falling in scattered droplets over the aged oak.

Varric twisted in his chair to take in the newcomer. The hair was different: a muddy brown in place of her strawberry blonde, and done up in an unfamiliar, high style. She moved more stiffly… the heavy armour and numerous belts were obviously hindering her, but it wasn't quite that. She simply lacked a certain grace. Her features were hard-set and her eyes glinted malice… yet there was no denying it, she shared Bianca's features. It had occurred to him as slightly odd, that he'd been running with the Carta for a time now and known naught of her other than her name and that she was Bianca's sister. Still, from all that he'd heard of her temperament he counted his blessings that their meeting had been postponed... until now it would seem.

"Ahhh, so this is where my sister's dogs spend their time." Her voice was similar, yet different. Harsher, but not quite so hard. "Would kennels not be more suitable?"

"What an interesting turn of phrase from the bitch herself." Bellam mumbled into Varric's ear before turning to face the newcomer. "Good to see you too, Juvia!" The old archer greeted, courteous to the point of mockery, something not unnoticed by the young woman in front of them.

"Spare me the pleasantries, you bag of bones, for none will be spared for you."

"Really? You seem quite the charmer…" Varric quipped before he could stop himself. He quickly dropped his eyes to avert the glare he was certain was upon him. He was beyond doubt that there were probably more than a few sisterly similarities… and he had no wish to be on the receiving end of that particular one…

"And you must be the latest stupid bastard to join their ranks? Tell me, how much arse did you kiss to get…?"

"Watch it, Juvia… he's not the usual duster you boss around. A little respect is due. But then again, respect to your elders is something that seems to escape your understanding…"

"Respect is earned, Old Man, and all you have earned from our peers and members alike is indifference and dismissal. All that bullshit you feed my sister about honour and doing things 'right by the stone' is laughable, really… I wish she would just see through you…"

Bellam gave a weary sigh. "I've given you that history lesson enough, we came from Orzammar to…"

"Very good, but what has 'doing right by the stone' achieved? Nothing. Being casteless in Orzammar or seen as dwarven scum in Kirkwall… what's the damned difference? Either way we're considered outcasts, either way we're segregated to the shit jobs no one wants and the back alleys no one with any sense wants to live near… I say it's time to take back what we're owed…"

"That's dangerous talk, girl. With things the way they are we can't afford to set anything off…"

"The Knight Captain? You think I fear her?"

"I think you're stupid if you don't. Thanks to your latest hair-brained scheme, whatever it is, the Templars have got us in their sights… don't be too surprised if you find yourself out in the cold before too long… unless of course, you're willing to stop this foolishness…?"

"You know me better than that."

The old dwarf gave an aggravated sigh, one in which Varric was sure he could hear regret, "I'm ashamed to say that I do. But anyway, you're clearly not here for a civilised conversation… what do you want, Juvia?"

"I'm actually here for him." Varric nearly jumped from his chair when her gaze swung to collide with his, he had been staring at her… wondering as to the obvious resemblances and differences between this stern young woman and her older sister, and had become so lost in his thoughts that her sudden attention was unnerving.

"…me?"

"I don't see anyone else sitting in that chair. Your brother, have you seen him? He was running an… 'errand'… for me, and hasn't reported in."

"How should I know? I've hardly seen him…"

"Shit!" She cursed, her face twisted into an expression that Varric wasn't sure what to make of.

He blinked. "No it's not!"

He felt Bellam's stance stiffen beside him and the old man slowly pulled himself to his feet. "Juvia… what's going on…?"

The young woman looked to him, and Varric felt something stir within him. For a second her hardened expression dropped, and she seemed lost. It reminded him of when Bartrand had first come to the surface, when he gazed at a sky and a distance he couldn't possibly comprehend. Looking at something he knew was bigger than him. Only for a moment. Her previous sneer returned swiftly, more unpleasant than ever.

"None of your damned business, Old Man…" She turned, tearing towards the door. Her arm reached for the handle, but before she could grasp it the door slammed violently open, bouncing with considerable force when it hit the wall. Silhouetted against the low evening sun stood the unmistakable frame of Bianca, her clearly confrontational stance made her younger sister back nervously away. She stepped slowly forward, and the bar's patrons seemed to shudder in unison. Her expression was thunderous, her cheeks red. The room fell instantly silent as she herded Juvia against a bannister.

"Little Sister," Bianca acknowledged, her words slow and deliberate, a stark contrast from the demeanour depicted by her expression. A truly chilling sight to behold.

"Bianca." He heard Juvia respond stiffly, setting herself into a defensive stance. Varric couldn't help but be impressed. He'd wilted like a dying flower beneath stares half as fearsome as this.

"Would you care to explain," Bianca began, her tone leaving little doubt that she wasn't asking, "why I just had Meredith in my office, using the words 'Carta' 'Mages' 'Smuggling' 'Gallows' and 'Lyrium'?!"

He heard the younger sister suck in a breath. "I have no idea-"

"Don't lie to me!" Bianca barked, with far less restraint than Varric had ever seen her show. "Damn it, Juvia! I thought you were running some errands for mages but this?! And you lot-!" Her gaze swung furiously around the room to acknowledge her unwanted spectators, "get back to drinking, unless you want to be guarding wagons along the Wounded Coast for a week! I hear those Qunari really have it in for us at the moment!"

Obediently, although with some nervous reticence, their eyes returned to their tankards, although their attention undoubtedly stayed with their furious taskmaster. Realising this, Bianca swiftly closed the gap between herself and her sister, seized the latter by the arm and dragged her to where Bellam and Varric sat in confusion.

"Did you know about this?" The older sister hissed, her eyes turning to Varric.

"Woah woah…! Know about what?"

"He doesn't know anything about it, Bianca." Juvia growled snatching her arm free. "I am not as swift as you to trust fools…"

"I wouldn't be so sure of that, it's not one of mine in the Templar's grasp, is it?"

"I'll deal with it." The younger sister huffed gruffly, making to leave.

"Oh no you won't." Bianca stepped in her path, blocking her exit. "You and Git-features have caused quite enough trouble. We need to get him out, and we need to do it quickly. Newbie… we'd better get moving. I know a short cut…"

"I'm sorry…" Varric cut-in, ignoring the glares from both women, "But what's going on… who is in the Templar's grasp?"

The sisters shared a somewhat pained expression, before Juvia's otherwise pleasant features moulded into one of scorn. "Not very quick on the uptake, is he?" She chuckled, in a low laugh that reminded him of Bartrand when he had a suitably shifty plan.

"I'm not taking that from you. If I hear you've interfered any further in this business you'll have not only me but the rest of the inner circle to deal with. Bellam, please escort my sister to somewhere where she can't do any more damage."

"…You still haven't told me…"

"You're brother, Newbie. Git features has gone and really fucked up this time…"

…

Varric looked down on the dubious looking man-hole with more than a little apprehension. "That thing goes to the Gallows?"

"I'll grant you it's not exactly the scenic route… but yes."

"Why, exactly is Bartrand there again?"

"It seems that your repugnant brother and my stupid sister have been involved in a little smuggling operation. They've been taking Lyrium shipments from Orzammar... and then delivering it to mages in the Gallows. Stupid bastards… no wonder the Knight Captain has been asking so many questions lately. Never thought I'd see her in Darktown till the other week…"

"Riiight… so why are we going towards the Templars, then?"

"Because the deal went sour the other end, your brother ran and hid with the Templars in pursuit. Thankfully it doesn't seem like they saw his face, but they know it's a dwarf they're looking for… and I'm not sure I want to find out what tune he will sing if he gets caught. Although I've no doubt Git features is excellent at playing dead when needed, that won't help him get off an island swarming with people out for his blood, will it? Unless he can swim…?"

"You gotta be kidding…?"

"Didn't think so." She chuckled, lifting the grate from the disgusting looking hole in the ground. "Now, in you go… age before beauty and all that…"

"… aren't I younger than you?"

"… are you saying you're better looking too?"

"Would I?" Varric tried to mask the smirk, throwing his hand over his heart as if wounded by such an idea.

"Well then, down you go, Newbie."

Varric clambered down the rotting ladder into the darkness, choking as the vile fumes from the sludge below rose to greet him. "Don't light that lamp down here, Bianca, the place'll blow."

"I see." He heard the voice from above him and a clunk as her foot greeted the first stair. Varric made a point of not looking up to her as she spoke out of respect. Not that he'd have been able to see much in this gloom. "Then tell me, Newbie, would you rather be stepping in it?"

As if she had known he was about to jump down, the question was answered for him when a sickening, sloppy, wet sound greeted him, and the ground slid underfoot. "Point taken."

"Good." He heard her land beside him, and immediately she thrust the cold metal of her lantern into his grasp to hold and began to fiddle with her tinder box. "By the way, Newbie, this passage is only known to a few. I doubt many Templars know of its existence. So if you tell anyone, I may have to kill you. There's a reason I wouldn't bring Juvia this time."

"How did you find it, then?"

Her face was suddenly illuminated as the lantern flared into life. Varric couldn't help but notice how soft it made her features seem. It made his heart jump, and Bellam's twinkling eyes and tight-lipped smile returned to him for a moment. Dammit old man! "You really want to know?"

"Sure… why not?"

"If I tell you, I may have to kill you."

"Let's face it, I run that risk every day with you…"

He was rewarded for his wit with a chuckle, "Fine, fine. I ran into some poor woman by the Docks, turned out she was an apostate. Terrified of those bastards from the Chantry… apparently some years before her sister had been taken away to the damned Gallows and they made her Tranquil. But before they could do it, the sister found out and escaped through this tunnel to say her goodbyes to her family and to tell her little sister- also skilled with magic- of the tunnel's existence, should she ever need to escape her fate. The poor woman had then watched her sister hand herself over to the Templars, knowing full well what destiny awaited her. She wanted me to know about the tunnel, so that if the Templars ever sought to make her Tranquil, she could escape with my help. The plan was that she would write me as soon as she caught the whisper giving us plenty of time to get out."

She caught Varric's quizzical stare. "I wasn't always such a hardened bitch, you know… I was young once, and new to the hardships this city could dish out, so I was moved by her tears, and by her story. I guess you could say we were friends before the Templars took her.

I agreed, of course. And when the letter came I moved into the tunnel ready to help her escape. Only she never came. I'd only known her a short time, but I was worried and I needed to know. So I snuck into the Gallows to find her…."

Varric was a little startled when he heard Bianca's voice choke. She faltered, using the opportunity to strap her weapons on accordingly and adjust her armour while her accomplice still held the torch.

"And then what happened?" He asked dumbly, although he suspected by her wistful and saddened expression that he could make an educated guess.

"Let's just say she didn't cry anymore." She went quiet for a moment. "Come on, Newbie," she said, retrieving the torch from him, "let's move."

….

Other than the occasionally freakish sized rat, they didn't encounter much in the way of hostilities… but as he took in the nauseating smell Varric could understand why. Maker! Even his eyes were watering!

Bianca had questioned his seeming lack of concern for his brother several times, not out of confusion… but out of interest. Truthfully, he'd not known how to respond. He supposed that it was because he'd known Bartrand to be in far bigger messes than this one, and somehow he always seemed to land on his feet… but he knew that there was also another answer, and one he wasn't so ready to admit. So he just shrugged and gave non-committal responses to pacify her.

It hadn't taken long for them to fall into an awkward silence. As much as he wished for Bartrand's well-being, he couldn't help but feel angry that he had been put in this position, why couldn't his brother ever just clean up his own messes? Why couldn't he ever just keep his nose clean? Everywhere they went it was dastardly scheme after dastardly scheme… and he was finding that he'd had just about enough of it.

His thoughts dissolved as he heard harsh voices above them, and Bianca carefully dimmed the lamp; as she did so it became obvious that light filtered into the tunnel up ahead, the broken rays probably indicating some kind of grate. Instinctively, the two crouched, pressing themselves to the tunnel's wall. "Remind me to throw out this coat when we get back…"

"Quiet, Newbie."

"I long for the day that's not my nickname anymore…"

"Well that day will never come if you don't shut up now…" She hissed.

Almost as if on cue, the shadows were broken and the silence that descended upon them was interjected with the clink of mental armour. "Maker curse you, Gotfried! You're bloody hearing things again!"

"I heard voices." The figure closest to them protested. "I'm sure of it."

"Are you sure they weren't the ones in your head, friend?"

"Why you-!"

"QUIET!" A new voice cut in – a woman this time, and with an authoritative tone. A weighted pause punctuated the air above them and Bianca and Varric snuck forward to get a better chance at listening.

"Sorry Knight Captain…"

"Sorry…"

"You better had be. Has the dwarf been apprehended yet?!"

"Ahhh… no, Ma'am."

"Then you'd better find that crafty little sod, hadn't you. I knew something was amiss… But rest assured, gentleman… be it Mages or Templars, I. Will. Have. Order. Now search every corner!"

The crashing of armour faded and Varric let a sigh rattle out between his teeth. "Well, one thing you can say about Bartrand…"

"He's a sloppy worker?"

"He knows how to make an entrance."

"Both bad things in my book." She grunted. "In any case, let's get out there and find him. I've had enough of skulking around in the dark."

Varric chuckled lowly. "Fortunately for us, something else my brother is good at…"

….

It had not taken them long to find the old exit, and as Varric forced his way through layers of ivy and thorns, he understood just how the Templars could miss such an opening for any would-be fugitives. It took at least five minutes to wade through the dense foliage. Almost as dense as the bastard we've come to save… He thought drily.

When they had pierced the thick green veil, they were delivered to a small, pebble littered crevasse behind the daunting looking building. "Any ideas where to look, Newbie?"

"Anywhere there's unattended wallets…?"

"Cute… but not helping…"

"He'll stick to somewhere where's there's lots of columns… that means lots of shadows and lots of things to hide behind. Know of anywhere?"

"… in front of the Barracks…" She answered flatly. "But he's not that stupid surely?"

"Bartrand has a set of rules he lives by… I'll be surprised if any have adapted over the years."

The woman beside him gave an exaggerated, aggravated grunt of frustration which made Varric smile to himself. "Are all the men in your family so infuriating?"

"Well, I can't say I remember much about my dear old 'Pop' but I do remember my mother hitting him aside the head with her favourite frying pan once or twice…"

"Didn't that dent the metal for cooking?"

"Well yes, but she just kept it for hitting things… that's why it was her favourite…"

"Fair enough… might have to get me one of those, and beat some sense into Juvia and Git features when this is done."

"I'm flattered." Varric grinned at her, as they edged their way closer to the corner of the wall for inspection.

"Why are you flattered?"

"It wasn't so long ago I would have been in line with them, myself."

Her tongue clicked against her teeth, something he had come to recognise as something she did when she just didn't know what to say… and she didn't like it. "You come with your own set of frustrations, Newbie, and don't you forget it. I've got to put up with your sop of a brother for a start…" She took a swift and fleeting glance around the corner before snatching herself back. "There's two round there, easy enough to take out but I'd rather not spill any blood. Only fire your bow if necessary… and I mean do it quickly and quietly, Newbie. Watch what's going on, don't make any rash decisions."

"Quick question before we brave overwhelming odds to save my 'sop of a brother', by the way…"

"That's another thing, Newbie… your timing is terrible…"

"Are you ever going to stop calling me 'Newbie'?

She gave him a stiff smile as she unsheathed her daggers slowly, "The day I stop calling you 'Newbie' is the day we'll never see each other again… because I'm not likely to meet another like you, for good or ill… now, stick to the shadows, and no sudden movements…"

He watched her move ahead, blending into the shadows as she did so. He waited, observing the surrounding area, all the while keeping one eye one where she should have been.

His patience was rewarded by two muffled cries and the sound of metal being lowered to the ground. "This way!" He heard her hiss, and he followed the sound of her voice swiftly and obediently. To his left he knew instinctively was the entrance to the Barracks, as to his right, just as Bianca described, lay the columned arena.

They fell to a crouch once more, just beside the stairs in the bushes. Varric's eyes darted between the shadows… where are you, you sneaky bastard?

His thoughts were drawn back to him when he felt a hand rest on his shoulder and her voice whisper in his ear. "Proceed ahead, find him… I'll watch for any… complications…"

"You always know exactly what I want to hear…"

"Just do it before I find a frying pan…"

Varric snickered, moving swiftly into the shadows, trying to imitate Bianca's movements as he had seen before. Their various excursions over the past few months had taught him a great deal and honed his skills impressively, but he still knew he didn't hold a candle to her. Although that didn't change the fact that he could now hold his own. The fear that would have gripped him months before had now become focus, as his eyes scanned the darkness keenly. He was rewarded after a few moments with a small movement and a hushed, husky voice. "Brother…? That you?"

"Yeah." Varric responded lowly. "No sudden movements, Bartrand, or…"

Being the same old pig-ignorant nug, of course, the ginger bearded dwarf ignored his brother's words and removed himself swiftly from his hiding place, "What in the name of the Ancestors took you so long-?!" A brusque movement from the left and a sharp intake of breath from Bartrand heralded the end of his speech –and consciousness- and marked Bianca's arrival. She lowered Bartrand's limp form to the floor before beckoning Varric over. "Quick, Newbie, grab him and let's go. I'll clear the path. Let's just get out of here before anyone sees…."

Varric dragged his brother over his shoulders and grunted as he took the weight. "Why don't you have to carry him?"

"You've already said you're getting a new coat, no reason I should sully mine. Now hurry up, I've just overheard that it's change of guard and they're not going to wait for us to finish bickering!"

…

Varric couldn't help but notice the deep chuckle that rumbled from the elf's throat. "Something I said?"

"Indeed, wouldn't it have save us a lot of trouble in the Deep Roads if you have just left him in the Gallows?"

The drunken snickering did not subside… If Varric were honest with himself, he found it a little unnerving... and more than a little mocking… "I'm glad that you can see the funny side of this…"

"It's difficult not to!"

"Yeah, well. Some ties are not broken so easily. That's a lesson only learned the hard way, Elf…"

"How can you possibly say you are bound to…"

"You're frightened to be with Hawke because of what some crazy mage did to you years ago. Make no mistake, Elf, ties that bind seem more like chains sometimes. It's not always an option to walk away… and even if it is, sometimes it's not an option we can take…"

"I take it from the way you have lowered your voice and have begun enunciating more deliberately that we are about to press into an important yet tragic point in our tale…?" Fenris reached clumsily for yet more ale and poured it even more clumsily into his mouth.

"Very observant, Elf… you're still a dick for pointing it out though."

"How bad can it possibly be? You evaded the enemy and got your man out…"

Varric sighed, a weighted, heavy sigh. No doubt the Elf though it another dramatic touch from a storyteller… he wished he could make him believe how sincere it was. "Aye, we did that. But at a price… and it was a price no one was prepared to pay…"