Chapter 57

Spring finally arrived in Southern Ferelden and Gavin began the business of preparing for planting his crops. The first thing he set his friends to doing was clearing out downed branches and dead leaves. While they did that, he went into Lothering to speak with the herbalist mage there. He still had plenty of gold to buy the stuff he needed to retreat the soil and make sure any taint that might have been missed the first time was removed. He then stopped at the miller's where he purchased fortified soil to turn into the ground. Normally, after having been left fallow for such a long period, the ground would have been revitalized. But, the taint had stopped that process so he now had to do it this way.

Once he arrived back on the farm, he sought out Fenris who was stacking dead branches and leaves to be burned. "Hey, would you mind accompanying Jethann to Denerim to buy the seed we need? I'm sending a lot of gold with him, and while he's a good negotiator, he can't defend himself."

"You don't wish to go?" Fenris looked up in surprise.

"If I go, I'll probably get cornered by the king again with a plea to return to Kirkwall," Gavin sighed.

"Are you saying you changed your mind?" the elf frowned.

"I've had time to think and I don't want to go back, ever," the mage nodded. "This is where I belong, what I was meant to do with my life. This is how I can best honor my father and mother's memory."

Fenris said nothing for a long time before finally nodding. "Okay then."

Gavin smiled, clapped him on the shoulder and headed toward the house. No sooner had he set foot in the doorway than Orana yelled at him to take his boots off. "I've spent the past couple hours scrubbing the floor," she huffed. "You can go barefoot now, so leave all shoes and boots on the mat outside the door."

Gavin smiled and did as she said. "You've done a marvelous job Orana."

She flushed in pleasure at his words. "Well, it's what I do best after all. Jethann is excited about going with you to the city. Me, I think I've had enough of them for a while. Being here has been wonderful."

"I agree, which is why I asked Fenris to go in my place," Gavin told her as he went to the pump and poured some water to freshen up.

"When are you leaving for Kirkwall?" she asked him. Seeing him frown she hurried on, "I only ask because I'm going to miss you and want to spend as much time with you and Fenris as possible."

"I've decided not to go," Gavin told her. "I'm going to write a letter to the king explaining why and have Fenris deliver it. After thinking things over, I don't see how I can make a difference over there."

"Maybe people will be ready to listen to you now since they've gotten a taste of what the alternative is," Jethann said as he came in the back way. "Even before you left, the Chantry lost some of its power because of that crazy priest what killed the Viscount's son."

"What do you mean?" Gavin looked at him.

"Well, during my trips to the market place and such, I spoke with other elven servants," he stood with his arms crossed as he spoke. "They gossip as much as old ladies," he snorted. "Anyway, many of the nobles had questioned Elthina about what happened, demanding to know how something like this could have gone unnoticed. Apparently, she told them she put her trust in her people and trusted the Maker to know and reveal their hearts."

Gavin shook his head, his lips curled in a sneer, "I'll bet that went over well."

"Oh yeah," Jethann rolled his eyes. "Anyway, rumor had it that the nobles were thinking of writing to Val Royeaux and getting Elthina replaced."

"How come you never told me this?" Gavin puzzled.

"Well, you had so much else to deal with, your mother's murder and all," he answered with a shrug. "And it was all second hand rumor and such. Why? Would it have changed your mind about leaving?"

Gavin didn't answer right away. If the nobles had truly been unhappy with the city's leadership even before he'd left, there was the possibility that Jethann and the others were right about people being willing to listen to him now. But, he didn't really want to be a leader, to rule over people. He liked farming and the simple country life. And if he left, would he ever be able to come back, or would he be changed forever?

"Years ago, you took me in and made me believe that things could change, that life could get better," Orana said softly. "I met a man I love with all my heart. I had a good home with a good master who treated me with respect. All of it something I could only imagine in my dreams. Everyone deserves a chance at a happiness like mine and I believe that if anyone can change things in Kirkwall, it's you."

"And not just in Kirkwall, but perhaps all of Thedas too," Fenris added. He had come to the house to get something cold to drink and had listened to the conversation unobserved. "Years ago, when we first met, I helped you return an amulet to the Dalish. We met Flemeth and she seemed to see clearly into our hearts. Remember what she said?"

Gavin closed his eyes and tried to remember that day. "I believe it was something about leaping?"

"She said we stand on the precipice of change and to not be afraid to leap into the abyss when the time comes," Fenris told him. "She wanted to come to the Free Marches for a specific reason, that's the only reason she helped you escape Ferelden. She struck me as a woman who liked being in the thick of things. So, the logical conclusion is that whatever change is coming is going to start in the Free Marches."

"Perhaps even in Kirkwall itself," Jethann nodded, having seen where the other elf was going.

"I got the impression that she was talking to you specifically Hawke," Fenris continued. "There was a look in her eyes, almost like expectation, as she spoke."

"Well, that's been the story of my life since my father died," Gavin said with a groan as he covered his face with his hands. He stood up and began to pace the small confines of the kitchen. "This is the first time in my life since then that I'm actually doing something I WANT to do. The only ones I had any obligation to are dead and buried. I WILL NOT be someone else's tool anymore."

The three elves watched as he stomped out of the house. They looked silently at each other before turning back to what they were supposed to be doing. After a bried hesitation, Fenris set off to follow Hawke. To do what, he wasn't sure. Maybe just to apologize. He found him in the far corner of the farm throwing a stick for Fang to fetch. "I'm sorry if I upset you. That was not my intention."

Gavin looked at him and smiled ruefully, "No, you were just telling me what I needed to hear so that I could make the best, informed, decision. Just like you've always done."

"And just like I've always done, I will stand behind your decisions," Fenris reminded him. "Even when I don't agree with them." He walked over to the mage and wrapped his arms around him, pressing up against his back. "I love you Gavin and nothing will ever change that. I will stand by you till death takes me from your side. If it helps, I don't feel like that will come anytime soon."

"Do you believe as the others?" Gavin whispered. "That I have the power to change the world?"

"The World?" Fenris snorted in amusement. "Perhaps not. But you're own little corner or your mother's birth city? Definitely." He stepped away and turned to go back to work.

Gavin watched him go until a whine at his feet brought him back to what he'd been doing. He took the stick from Fang and tossed it, chuckling as the dog made a mad dash for it. He didn't want to think about Kirkwall, or Flemeth, or the king's request anymore.

After a few more throws, he whistled for Fang to follow and went to join Fenris in clearing the debris. It took the rest of the afternoon and the sun had almost set by the time they finished. "We can start burning this in the morning," he said to Fenris. "Then you and Jethann can set off for Denerim while I work on treating and turning the soil."

"What if I run into any problems with the king's men or something?" Fenris speculated. "I am easily recognized and someone might report my presence."

"I doubt it would happen, but just tell them what I told you," Gavin shrugged. "If they take issue with it, they're more than welcome to come here to discuss it."

Jethann laughed at that, "Yeah, make the important folks come to you. At least here, there's no risk of being captured and tossed on a ship back to Kirkwall."

Gavin and Fenris both gaped at him before busting out laughing. "Maker, where do you come up with these crazy ideas?" Gavin sputtered.

"Not so crazy," Jethann protested in a miffed voice. "I've read how things like that happen. Varric gave me copies of what he wrote that he based off your adventures."

That caused them to laugh some more. "Sorry that I have to say this, for I do like his tales myself," Fenris said between huffs of laughter. "Varric is never happy with the truth as he feels it is uninteresting to read. So, he just makes up whatever he feels will make people want to keep reading his stories."

"You mean the stuff he writes about didn't really happen?" Jethann looked extremely disappointed at that notion. He looked to Hawke, a silent plea in his eyes.

"Varric didn't make it all up," Gavin said softly. "He just feels that they weren't exciting enough to begin with and needed more spice. Personally, I think our adventures were exciting enough for two lifetimes."

"Ah, so he just added in stuff," Jethann nodded, his face clearing. "But, how do I know what really happened unless you tell me yourself."

Gavin stopped and thought about it for a minute. "Okay, if you really want to hear the truth of our adventures, I suppose I can tell you. Although, I have to say that I'm not that good of a story teller. You might find it boring."

"I never found your conversations boring," Fenris told him. "Then again, I never found the truth to be boring."

"Tonight would be a good night to hear about one of your true adventures," Jethann said. "Then I can compare it to what Varric has written and see just how much he stretches the truth."

"Stretches the truth?" Gavin chuckled. "I like that. It does sum up what Varric does." He was still laughing as he led the way back to the house for supper. "Very well. After dinner I'll tell you a story or two. And I'm sure that Fenris will be happy to answer any questions you might have about other things you've read."

"It will take us a few days to reach Denerim so we will have ample time," Fenris nodded agreement.

"Awesome," Jethann cried, practically bouncing on his toes.

"Get in here and cleaned up, supper's getting cold," Orana scolded them from the kitchen.

"Yes, ma'am," Gavin said solemnly, eliciting more laughter from the other two, before removing his boots and stepping inside. As he washed up and then sat down at the table, he thought that his life was just about perfect. He was determined to never leave his farm again.