Chapter 16: Reunions
Lyna Mahariel was rarely surprised.
The Dalish warden had seen much in her short life. The coming of the Blight and her rule in Amaranthine had showed her many things that she had not expected to see.
She had stood her ground against a tainted god. She had travelled into the darkest corners of the deep roads and seen the horrors that hid within those shadows. She had slain tyrants and monsters both, and she had watched as an old friend had vanished into something she saw as her damnation.
Yes, it was a rare thing that could surprise Lyna Mahariel, even Anders' presence in Kirkwall had not been that shocking. She knew that people fleeing the city of Amaranthine had often taken ship across the waking sea to Kirkwall. The fact that one of her fellow wardens had done the same was not so far-fetched.
Anders had said little since she had struck him, which was perhaps a good thing. She was still too angry to talk, and the pain of her wounds only made her more irritable.
How could he do it? She thought with an angry snort.
How could he just abandon us like that?
How could he just abandon me?!
She knew that there would need to be a reckoning sooner or later. She needed to speak with him in private, but for now, she would be happy to get off the street before anyone else tried to attack them.
The mage woman, the one they called Hawke led them up into the area of the city that the Kirkwallers called Lowtown. Lyna's nose wrinkled at the sight of the place. It made some of the slums in the city of Amaranthine look almost paradise-like in comparison. The few toughs they passed gave Hawke and her allies a wide berth.
Apparently the woman had some kind of reputation in this city, her friend Varric had been more than happy to mention that to them as they made their way up the steps.
Lyna shook her head.
She was still not sure what to make of all this. Part of her started to wonder if she had made a mistake beginning this journey. Everywhere she had gone since leaving the Vigil she had been attacked. She had made enemies she had not even realized that she had, and now, that she was no longer safe behind the Vigil's walls they were trying to collect her, for reasons that even she did not entirely understand.
The warden sighed.
So much for keeping a low profile, she had hoped to drift in and out of the civilized parts of Thedas, a shadow that few would notice. Such an existence would have made her search so much easier.
Her elven ears lowered slightly.
She had underestimated the number of enemies she had made in the last few years, of the eyes that watched her, the ears that marked her steps, and now…her miscalculation would likely result in the death of someone she had come to call friend.
Royce was in a daze. Hawke's magic had healed him, but it was clear that he would need a bit of rest before they would be able to continue on with their journey. Esme and the guard woman Aveline helped him up the stairs and down the street. Bok and the animals brought up the rear, protecting them from any enemy who might try to take advantage of their weakened state. Kierhen stayed close to Findel, making sure the boy had no further magical outbursts.
Lyna pursed her lips.
She could still hear Findel's wailing cries; see the fire lighting up his eyes. For a moment he had been lost to his own magic, she did not need to be a mage to know how dangerous that could be.
She was starting to wonder if bringing the boy along had been a good idea. He was powerful, make no mistake. Kierhen had been right about that at least, but without proper instruction…
She shook her head.
Such power could be quite dangerous.
Hawke turned the corner, bringing them up to the entrance of a very noisy establishment, even with the hard stone walls; she could hear boisterous laughter and voices coming through the small windows. The sign over the entrance said: The Hanged Man.
The warden pursed her lips.
Another tavern, she should have known.
Next to her, Hawke's dwarven ally chuckled.
"It isn't the Hightown Inn," he said, "But if you're looking to stay out of sight and get a hot meal in your belly it isn't bad."
Lyna sniffed.
She did not think eating or drinking anything in this place was a good idea, if the smell was any clue.
Hawke led them inside. The tavern was busy tonight, card games taking place at most tables while servers wove their way through the swirling crowd. The bar was packed with people while a tough looking tender brought drinks to all who had placed coin on the rough hard surface.
"We can bring your friend up here," she heard Hawke say over the din. The mage was pointing to a staircase in the back.
"He can rest in Varric's room, at least until he gets his strength back."
Aveline and Esme helped Royce up the stairs while Varric followed them pulling out his key. If the dwarf was annoyed at Hawke's presumption he made no mention of it. Lyna was quickly beginning to understand just how loyal Hawke's circle of friends really was.
She had to admit, she was impressed.
At first glance, one would look at Hawke and see just another outlaw. She might have been friends with the Captain of the Guard but that did not make her any paragon of justice. Lyna had known several corrupt guard officers in her time, her few visits to the city of Amaranthine and Denerim had quickly established her views of corruption in the shemlen world. She had developed a perception of what to expect the moment she stepped into a shemlen city.
Hawke and her friends did not fit those perceptions.
Hawke had helped them with little thought of reward that was unusual to say the least, though she had mentioned the slavers that attacked them had had a bounty on their heads. As far as Lyna was concern the mage and her friends were welcome to it, despite what Bok might say. She owed them something for saving her life after all.
It was the least she could do to repay that debt.
Once they had gotten Royce settled in, the group returned downstairs. Esme had promised to sit with him, to watch over him while he slept. Arrow and Lady also remained behind, along with Hawke's Mabari, the noise and the smell of the Hanged Man did little for a warhound's senses, much less a wild wolf's.
A group of tough vacated their table when they saw Hawke and Varric approaching. Once again, the mage's reputation was making things easy for them.
One of the servers came over and took their drink orders. Hawke suggested the ale; it was the safest thing one could get in Lowtown. While they waited Hawke gave them a head's up of what was going on here in Kirkwall lately…
Lyna sighed, what she was hearing did not bode well for their mission.
Kirkwall was a city in chaos right now.
A small Qunari army was camped in a small compound on the docks, their intentions unknown. Tensions between the mages and the Templars were high. A killer wandered the streets preying on women, and city's rulers were unable to quell the violence that haunted even the streets of Hightown.
Lyna's ears twitched. She had hoped that Kirkwall would have given them a chance to catch their breaths. They had fled Orlais so quickly, now it seemed they had jumped out of the frying pan and into yet another fire.
Still, the warden refused to let herself be distracted, she had come here for a reason to find the Black Emporium.
She would not abandon that goal.
Hawke, as it turned out, could aid her with that, she had an open invitation from Xenon, the Antiquarian. She said she would not risk Darktown and the sewers after nightfall, but once the sun came up, she would be able to bring the warden before the old merchant.
Hawke chuckled.
"I would advise you to be careful when you meet with old Xenon," the mage said, "He is a bit of an acquired taste, though his merchandise is prime."
Lyna nodded, she had dealt with difficult merchants before.
Hawke looked up every time the door opened. Her blue eyes held a sense of longing in them. Lyna glanced down at the dwarf, Varric, who chuckled.
"Hawke's waiting for her broody elf," he murmured, "They have kind of a thing going."
The mage shot her friend a dirty look.
"What," he said with a shrug.
The mage rolled her eyes and shook her head.
Clearly she was not pleased with the dwarf's take on the situation, but she did not deny it either.
Lyna smiled slightly.
She knew a thing or two about wanting someone who was not very good for her.
The rest of her group seemed to settle in as best they could. Kierhen took a seat in the corner, smoking his pipe. Findel stayed close to Lyna, no doubt suffering a bit of claustrophobia being around so many shemlen. Lyna had felt the same the first time she had stepped into a lowborn tavern.
It was the smell, she remembered. It had really bothered her at first, over the years she had gotten used to it, she barely noticed the smell anymore, but the memory of those early encounters remained.
Findel would have to learn to adapt, just as she had.
The only member of their group who seemed completely at peace here was Bok. The former Highwayman was as happy as a pig in slop. He fit in easily with the rough customers that chose to make the Hanged Man their stomping grounds.
Lyna did not relax, her eyes darting from tough to tough. Many of these men had the look of bounty hunters about them, if they knew about the price on her head…things might get messy. Creator's knew; if Hawke knew about the bounty, things might get messy.
The mage seemed like an alright sort, but it was like Mistress Woolsey had always said…
Gold corrupts the most resolute soul.
Eventually the conversation turned to Anders. The mage had chosen not to join them at the Hanged Man. He had returned to his home in Darktown, looking for a salve to help his bruised jaw.
Lyna shook her hand again. Her knuckles were still sore, even with Hawke's healing magic.
Damn Anders, and damn her temper, she thought.
Hawke told them a bit of how she had first made the mage's acquaintance, about the death of his friend Karl. Lyna shook her head.
Had she known that one of Anders' friends was in trouble, she would have helped him. He was a fellow warden, a brother. He had not needed to go off on his own.
She asked Hawke if she knew anything about what had happened the night Anders had left Amaranthine, had he told them anything about that.
Hawke shifted uncomfortable, Anders had never spoken about what had happened, but it was clear that the mage was hiding something, Lyna could almost smell it.
It made the talk she intended to have with Anders that much more necessary. She needed to know what had happened. Why he had fled so quickly, and what had happened to Justice?
Justice had been her friend too.
She wanted to know what had happened to him.
The door to the Hanged Man opened again, Hawke glanced up.
The mage smiled.
"Over here, Bela!" she called out, "Come meet some people!"
Two women pushed through the crowd. The first one seemed familiar to her, though she could not quite remember where they had met. The woman following moved behind a crowd of customers so Lyna had not managed to get a good look at her.
The first woman swaggered up to their table. She was dark skinned with his thigh-high boots and a shift that only just covered her generous form.
The dark woman chuckled.
"New friends, Hawke," she said with a smirk, "Hope they are a little more fun than our chantry boy archer."
Hawke chuckled.
"Sebastian isn't that bad, he…"
"He is a prude," the woman she called Bela added, "he won't even…"
The dark skinned woman paused.
Her eyes fell on Lyna.
She smiled brightly.
"Well, well," she cooed, "Isn't this a surprise, hello again, warden."
Lyna's eyes narrowed.
"Forgive me," she said, "But I can't quite remember you."
Bela chuckled.
"Oh I'm hurt," she said with a fake pout, "True we only met briefly, but I tend to leave an impression.
She stepped back and curtseyed.
"I'm Isabela," she said, "Formerly, Captain Isabela, though without a ship that title rings a little hollow."
Lyna's ears twitched.
Isabela? Yes, she remembered now, that fight in the Pearl! The card player.
"You're Zevran's friend," the warden said.
Isabela smirked.
"I would prefer that people think him my friend, but at least I jogged your memory."
She gave her a sly smile.
"If you would like later, I could give you something more…personal to remember me by."
Lyna rolled her eyes.
Yup, the woman was definitely Zev's friend.
She called over her shoulder.
"Come here kitten," he said, "there is someone I want you to meet. She is one of yours, I think."
Lyna's ears twitched again.
One of yours?
A slender figure made her way through the crowd, carrying two pints of ale. A large mercenary nearly blundered into her, but stopped when a jolt of electricity shot from the woman's finger. The man yelped and got out of the way. A few of his friend's chuckled, it was the man's first time in the Hanged Man.
Those who had spent any time here knew enough to get out of the slender woman's way. Nothing happened to her of course because she was one of Hawke's circle of friends.
No one messed with Hawke's gang here in the Hanged Man.
"So many people tonight," the newcomer murmured, "How do they expect anyone to get around in here, Creators' know I…"
She came face to face with Lyna.
Both women's jaws dropped, the two pints almost hit the floor, and would have had Isabela not quickly caught them.
Lyna stared with disbelief.
The new comer was Dalish; the tattoos were proof enough of that. Her leathers were clearly clan made. A long Dalish made mage staff was strapped to her back, her short black hair was done up in tiny braids. Large green elvhen eyes widened with disbelief.
The woman she had heard called Kitten swallowed hard.
"La…Lyna?" she said in a tiny voice.
The warden shook her head, refusing to be dumbstruck.
It seemed this was a day for reunions, not necessarily pleasant ones either.
"Andaran atish'an, Merrill," she said crossing her arms, "It has been a long time."
The First of the Sabrae clan tilted her head.
Lyna's eyes narrowed.
Here it comes, she thought.
Merrill was a cold bitch, she always had been, and she had never been a friend to Lyna. The warden fully expected some cold lecture about not trying to contact the clan, how she had not returned even to visit when the Blight ended.
Merrill had always found some way to find fault, it was her nature. She…
Merrill squealed like a happy da'len and threw her arms around the warden. She was giggling and crying at the same time, at least Lyna thought she was. Words came out of the First's mouth in a rush, words so fast that the warden could not understand them. She could not even tell if they were Dalish or in the Shemlen tongue.
So great was Merrill's joy at seeing her.
Lyna stood there…dumbfounded. Hawke and her friends watched the scene with amused smiled. Lyna' own companions looked confused…
They were not as confused as the warden was however.
Merrill had never been this nice to her before, Creators knew, she had never been nice…period.
Lyna Mahariel was not easily surprised, but this…this surprised her.
This is not Merrill, a little voice in the back of her head said.
What in the name of the Creators is going on?!