Chapter 30
Aveline, Varric, Fenris and Hawke sat silently around the table in the dwarf's suite at the Hanged Man. It had been one of the longest and most disheartening days they'd had so far. After defeating the demon at the Harriman's and freeing the family, Sebastian had fled back to the Chantry. Hawke had grabbed Varric and gone to see what the Arishok wanted. Aveline had been shocked that the Qunari would make the Viscount the go between and had intended to give the Arishok a piece of her mind. Once there, the news imparted to them had wiped all thoughts of the Viscount out of her head.
After learning about the stolen formula for a deadly poison gas, they had spent the rest of the afternoon tracking down Javaris Tintop. The dwarf had tried to use them once before, and this latest escapade of his had gotten them all mad. Then it had turned out that the dwarf wasn't respsonsible and they were pointed towards an elf in the city. They had rushed back, arriving in the Lowtown street where she was seen last, only to be faced with a horrible mess. Several barrels, all leaking the poison gas, had been spread around the area. They'd had to battle the gas, the numerous thugs, and the crazy elf herself.
Once it was over, they had called for priests, clerics, and healers in a vain attempt to save the poor innocent people exposed to the poison. They had been unable to save anyone on the street, and had even been in serious danger themselves. Luckily, they had all been healthy to begin with and were successfully treated and released. None of them felt like going home, so they'd decided to have a few drinks first.
Varric watched as Hawke toyed with his glass of brandy, a frown marring the handsome face. The mage had said nary a word since they'd got there. "You going to drink that or just stare at it all night?"
Gavin shook his head, grabbed the glass, and drowned the brandy in one go. "Happy?" he snapped, glaring at the dwarf.
"Hey, I was just asking," he held his hands out. "Keep that up and you'll need to be carried home though."
"You've been awfully quiet Hawke," Aveline said softly. She thought she knew what was bothering him. During their search of the street, Hawke had found a boy, probably no more than six years old, gasping for air and frothing at the mouth, inside a darkened building. The boy's mother, father, and older sister were all lying dead around him. Just as he'd knelt down, the boy had breathed his last.
"How could they do it?" Gavin shook his head, his voice tinged with disbelief and anger.
"Who knows why zealots do anything?" Varric shrugged.
"I'm not talking about that," he snapped. "I mean the Qunari. They allowed this formula to be stolen. All just to make a point?"
"They regard all those not of the Qun as bas filth," Fenris told him. "To them, those lives mean less than nothing. The only reason we even knew about it was because the Arishok deigned to tell you about the theft."
"Not in enough time to save those people," Gavin muttered, pouring himelf another glass.
"No, but enough time to stop the elf and her people from doing anything else," he pointed out.
"And did you hear her say that she was working with our people?" Aveline asked. "What do you think she meant by that?"
"I've been thinking about that myself," Varric frowned thoughtfully. "There's been a lot of different stories going about in the city lately, all pertaining to the Qunari."
"What kind of stories?" Gavin looked up at the dwarf.
"You know how stories are, mostly lies with a few grains of truth," he snorted.
"No one would know that better than you Varric," Aveline frowned. She never approved of the dwarf's penchant for embellishment.
"Anyway, what she said seems to fit with a story I heard about recent sermons being given in the Chantry," Varric ignored her comment. "Apparently someone has been preaching loud and long about how the Maker requires that the 'heathens' be brought down. The talk is all about standing firm in the face of evil and heresy."
"Sister Petrice," Gavin snarled. "Apparently she's found others of like mind and is busy stirring things up. She used us once already and she certainly wouldn't hesitate to use others."
Fenris nodded, "Yes, she certainly would be the type to do something like that."
"Hawke, that's specualtion," Aveline cautioned. "Even though it makes sense, we would need absolute proof before bringing it up with the Viscount or anyone else."
"If there's one thing I've learned over the years of dealing with backstabbing, cheating dwarven merchants," Varric interjected, "is that crazy, emotional people make stupid mistakes. She may be a calculating bitch with a heart of ice, but someone in her group will screw up eventually."
"And in the meantime, the innocents in the city pay the price," Gavin grumbled. He finished off his second glass and poured another.
Fenris eyed him askance, "Drinking won't make you feel better."
"You didn't find that kid," he snarled.
"No, but I've been in your shoes before," the elf said softly. "Dead and dying children were not an uncommmon sight in Tevinter. The magisters' cruelty, greed, and lust knew no bounds."
Gavin paused and met Fenris' gaze. He saw sadness and sympathy there. "How did you deal with it?"
Fenris met his gaze steadily, "I ran away. But I guess that's not an option anymore."
Silence fell around the table once more. Finally Aveline stood up with a heavy sigh, "We'll have to report to the Viscount first thing in the morning Hawke. I'm heading back to the barracks for a good night's sleep. I suggest you head home and do the same."
"I'll meet you outside his office," Gavin nodded and watched her leave before looking back down at his glass. He hesitated and then put it down without finishing it. Seeing Fenris eyeing him he smiled ruefully. "Don't want to be hungover when talking with the Viscount."
Varric chuckled, "No, that usually doesn't go over well Hawke." He glanced between the elf and the mage and then said with a sly smirk, "Of course, a good way to feel better is to have some hot and heavy sex." Seeing the surprise on Hawke's face his smirk turned into a big grin. "The hickey on your neck and Broody's possessive looks gave it away."
Fenris chuckled as he watched Gavin's face turn as red as his hair. "He does have a point. And besides, we have the matter of your little vision from earlier in the day to discuss."
Gavin saw Varric's mouth open, no doubt to ask some embarassing question, and he held up his hand in warning. "I don't kiss and tell."
"Neither do I," Fenris echoed, smirking when the dwarf's face fell.
"Well, I am an exceptional storyteller," Varric mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I'm sure what I come up with will be ten times hotter than anything you could tell me."
"You're not serious?" Gavin gasped.
"Hawke, you have many admirers," the dwarf retorted. "They want to hear about all your exploits, both in and out of the bedroom."
Fenris stood up and grabbed Hawke's arm as the mage sputtered incoherenty. "I better get him home before he does something drastic, like smash all your ink bottles," he laughed.
"You really make it too easy to pull your chain Hawke." Varric shooed them off, "Go home you two."
"He wasn't serious," Gavin was still gaping at the dwarf as he was led away.
"You know, I'm not really sure," Fenris mused.
"That's not funny Fenris," he snapped.
"Actually, it is," the elf chuckled as he led him out of the Hanged Man and steered him towards Hightown. "Seriously though, the only way to stop him would be to gag him and tie him up in a closet for the rest of his life."
"Don't tempt me."
They fell silent as they made their way through the darkened streets of Lowtown. It was still early enough in the evening for the taverns to still be full and the streets were fairly empty. They were almost to the Hawke estate before Gavin spoke again. "I think that things are only going to get worse in the city, not better."
"I wish I could say differently, but my gut tells me you're right," Fenris nodded.
"And here I was thinking I might take a vacation and go to Antiva or something."
"Gavin, you don't have to involve yourself in anything if you don't really want to."
"True, but I can't just stand by and let bad things happen either," the mage sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I know," the elf nodded. "It's what makes you so different and special."
Gavin glanced at him, saw the elf was completely serious and smiled slightly. "Well, I'm glad you think so," he said softly.
No sooner had they stepped into the foyer of the estate, than Fenris slammed Gavin against the wall and captured his lips in a heated kiss. With a moan, Gavin's arms wrapped around the elf and his hands grabbed the elf's ass and pressed him in closer. Breaking off the kiss, Fenris trailed light nips along Gavin's jaw to his ear where he whispered, "I do think you're special, or I wouldn't be here."
He pulled back and caught Gavin's heated gaze with a lust filled one of his own. "What I want right now is to see you naked, spread and willing on your bed." He watched as the mage's whole body shivered and his legs trembled. "Am I going to have to carry you?" he said in amusement.
Gavin barked a laugh, "Like you could." He was easily half a foot taller and almost eighty pounds heavier than the elf. He saw a strange gleam enter Fenris' eyes and only had a couple of seconds to wonder what it meant. The next thing he knew, the elf's markings flared blue and he was picked up and thrown over the elf's shoulder. "Put me down," he yelled, trying to sound outraged.
Fenris strode swiftly down the hall and into the living area. When Gavin continued struggling, he slapped his ass and said, "Behave yourself." This caused Gavin to start laughing.
"Ah, good evening Messere?" Bodahn's voice rose an octave as he goggled at his master being carried by Fenris.
"Hi Bodhan," Gavin waved at his manservant, laughing even harder at the dwarf's shocked expression.
"Your master has had one too many drinks," Fenris said smoothly. "I'm putting him to bed." These words caused Gavin to burst into peals of laughter. Yeah, put him to bed, right.
"As you say Master Fenris," Bodhan stammered out as he watched them disappear up the stairs.
"Enchantment!" Sandal shouted and clapped his hands.
"You might be right my boy," Bodhan shook his head. Then he figured it would be best to inform Mistress Amell that her son was home safe and that he had company for the night, and headed off to do just that.