Chapter 17

Gavin gave a silent sigh of relief as he walked through the gates to Hightown. The trip back to Kirkwall had been irritating and frustrating. First, Anders took every opportunity to nag him about training his mind and body to use his powers safely. He'd even gotten Varric, Isabela and Aveline to prod him about it. Second, Fenris had been even more brooding and taciturn than usual. Often he would catch the elf watching him with a thoughtful look upon his face, but he hadn't worked up the nerve to ask Fenris what he was thinking. Had something happened when he was unconcious? Sighing again, he pushed these thoughts aside and turned to his group.

"Okay, I'm going to go and get our reward from Hubert," he told them. "I'll make sure it's more than enough to cover the cost of buying into the expedition and provide a few extras."

"I could use a decent drink right about now," Isabela snorted. "As for your expedition, count me out. I think you're all barking mad for going."

Gavin couldn't help grinning as the pirate sauntered off. He sometimes wondered if he was crazy for wanting to venture into the Deep Roads. But, the alternative was to continue to struggle to make ends meet. Hopefully, the journey would prove as profitable as Varric said. With the money from the expedition he could buy the family estate back and set his mother up for life. Then, if the day ever came that he had to leave the city to avoid being locked up, he could do so with an easy conscience.

"Hawke," Aveline caught his attention. "Your expedition is likely going to take you at least three weeks or more. As much as I wish I could, I can't leave my post for that long. There are still many in this city that resent me and covet my position. I have to be here to-"

Gavin held up a hand, "I understand Aveline. You have a job to do and there's no better person to do it."

Aveline nodded and turned away, "I'll keep an eye on your family while you're gone."

"Okay Hawke, get the money and meet me in my rooms so we can finalize our plans," Varric told him. "You know, who's going or not, what to bring or not, those sort of things." He turned to Anders and grabbed him by the elbow, "Come on Blondie, I'll buy you an ale."

Gavin shrugged and turned away, not surprised when Fenris fell into step with him. They were alone now and maybe he would find out what was bothering the elf. He set a comfortable pace towards the Market. "I know that this hasn't been easy for you, traipsing around with me, and I really appreciated having you watch my back these past few weeks. I don't want to pressure you or anything, but I could really use your help on this expedition."

"Hawke I-"

"It's Gavin," he interrupted.

Fenris stopped suddenly, "Excuse me?"

"My friends and family call me Gavin. Hawke is my family name," he turned to face the elf. "I would really like you to use my first name, at least when it's just the two of us."

"Fair enough, Gavin," Fenris nodded and was gifted with a huge smile. He felt his stomach flutter at the sight of it.

For his part, Gavin had to repress a delighted shiver at the sound of his name rolling off the elf's tongue in that deep, growling voice the elf had.

"As I was about to say, of course I will be going with you," Fenris continued as they resumed their walk to Hubert's. "And not because I feel I owe you for anything, but because you will need a strong sword at your side down there. I've asked around about what the Deep Roads are like and found out some very disturbing things. The biggest one is how far under the surface they can go. From what I've heard, this expedition is going to be going farther and deeper than perhaps even the Wardens have been. Magic will be of limited use to us down there."

"Even magic as powerful as mine?" Gavin worried.

"Your most powerful magic is the type that can do more harm than good down there," the elf snorted. "Remember, we will be underground with millions of pounds of rock over our heads. Cave-ins and tunnel collapses are pretty much expected due to the volcanic nature of many of these areas."

"Of course," Gavin groaned. "Don't want to cause a cave in or bury us under rubble in the process."

"Correct," Fenris nodded. "One wrong step, one mistimed strike, and you could turn those tunnels into a mass grave for us as well as the darkspawn."

"Good thing I've gotten so much better with my blades then isn't it?" Gavin chuckled. "There's Hubert. Let's get our money and get back to Varric and the others."

An hour later they walked into the Hanged Man and headed for Varric's rooms on the second floor. As he reached the steps, Gavin paused, his attention caught by something that brought a frown to his face. At a table near the bar, Carver was sitting with Merrill and Isabela. The way his brother and the Dalish were leaning towards each other set off warning bells in his mind. Catching the pirate's attention, he motioned her to follow him upstairs.

"Okay, what's going on between those two?" he paused outside Varric's door and turned to her.

"What are you talking about?" Isabela replied in her most innocent sounding voice.

"My brother and Merrill," he growled. "You were sitting with them, what are they up to?"

"They're just talking Hawke," Isabela sighed. "Look, I know that you don't like Merrill but she's not a danger to anyone. She's too nice and kind-hearted."

"She practices blood magic and sees nothing wrong with it," he said harshly. "One of the powers it gives them is the ability to control the thoughts of others. I don't like that she seems to have gotten close to my brother. She's up to something."

"Hawke, your brother's lonely, Merrill's lonely," she retorted. "They're just friends. And if it turned into something more, it's really none of your business and there's nothing you can do about it without making things worse between you and your brother."

"We'll just see about that," Gavin snapped and stomped into Varric's sitting room. Blood mages had the ability to manipulate others, and by the Void, he was not going to allow Carver to become Merrill's pet.

"You're here, good," Varric rubbed his hands together. "Let's get down to business."

They spent the next half hour counting their coin and figuring out what supplies they would need above and beyond what Bartrand was supplying to the company as a whole. "Now, as for who is going, I have some thoughts on that," the dwarf said once they were done. "The Deep Roads are mostly long and narrow tunnels. Not too many places where a large group can move comfortably. Bartrand has already hired several workers and guards, which means we'll have to keep our group rather small."

"Well there's you, Fenris and myself," Gavin answered.

"And I think Anders should also go," Varric looked at the mage and saw a look of distaste cross his face.

"I hate the blighted Deep Roads," Anders said sourly.

"But, outside of Hawke, you're the only one of us here that has actually fought darkspawn," the dwarf pointed out. "Plus, you're immune to the corruption, so there's no danger for you going down there."

"Only to my sanity," the mage snorted.

"My brother will be coming with us," Gavin interrupted. "If we include Anders too, then Bartrand might get the idea that we're taking over or something."

"Are you sure that's wise?" Fenris asked, startled. "In the past your brother has shown a lack of discipline, often putting those around him at risk."

"He's learned his lesson and he won't want to stay behind anyway," Hawke replied. And I'll be able to get him away from Merril's influence, he thought.

"If you can put up with your brother for three weeks straight, then by all means take him along. I don't really want to go and you don't really need another mage down there," Anders backed him up. "The conditions of the Deep Roads limits our effectiveness."

"Good, then it's decided," Varric stated, sensing that further argument would be pointless. "Let's celebrate our success. Norah, bring a couple of bottles of the finest brandy."

Standing just outside the door to listen, Isabela frowned at what she'd just heard. Since she'd known them, the Hawke brothers had been at constant sword points with each other. Why the change of heart all of a sudden? Slipping away, she went back downstairs to watch the younger sibling and the little Dalish. It did seem that there might be something between the two of them and she had to question Hawke's motivation for bringing Carver on their journey. In her experience, if one tried to interfere in someone else's personal life, it usually ended badly. Shrugging, she went to the bar and ordered an ale. Oh well, there was nothing she could do about it now. She knew Carver's type. He wouldn't want to be left out of anything as big as the Deep Roads expedition. She only hoped that Hawke didn't come to regret the decision.

"Well, there are still a couple of things I must do before turning in tonight," Gavin downed the rest of his drink and stood up. Two glasses of brandy were more than enough to relax him. "I'll meet you at Bartrand's in the morning. Don't stay up too late."

Fenris watched him go and then turned to the others, "It's strange that Hawke wants to bring his brother with him now."

"But, he does have a point, his brother won't want to stay at home," Anders shrugged.

"You think there's another reason for the decision broody?" Varric poured them another round.

"I don't know, it's just odd," the elf accepted the refill.

Gavin stopped at Carver's table on the way out. "The expedition will be leaving tomorrow and I expect to see you there bright and early brother."

"What?" Carver looked up. "Oh right, of course. I'll be there," he nodded and stared after his brother as the mage left the bar. "How about that? I didn't have to twist his arm to let me go along," he said to the girl at his side.

"See, I told you he would relent," Merrill nodded, "you just had to give him time." She hesitated and then looked down at the table. "It sounds exciting, I wish I could go."

"It'll be dangerous for certain, exciting maybe not so much," Carver nodded. "We'll be gone quite a while I imagine. I hope the rewards will be worth it."

"And you'll come back rich and move to Hightown and forget about your friends here," Merrill said softly.

"You'll still be my friend," Carver smiled at her. "Um, I'd like to see you when we get back. If that's what you want," he added hastily, feeling a blush heat his cheeks.

Merrill looked up wide eyed, "You would? I mean, I'd like that. It's been kinda lonely here."

Carver smiled shyly and then called for the waitress to bring him another ale. He knew his brother didn't trust the Dalish girl, but honestly he couldn't see why. Merrill was sweet and kind, just the kind of girl his mother would want him to meet. Whether Gavin approved or not, he would be seeing more of Merrill after they returned.