From meeting Varric, Hawke and her group made their way towards the Viscounts Keep. Along the way, she heard Varric and Bethany chatting behind her.

"He used to nail my braid to the bed while I was sleeping," she said, laughing sadly. "I never thought I'd miss him this much…" Varric looked at her sympathetically.

"I'm sorry about your brother," he said. There was a moment of dreary silence before he said, "Hey, do you want mine? I've got an extra." Bethany giggled and Hawke smiled sadly to herself. She missed Carver just as much as Bethany. His death still weighed heavily on her mind. She continued to have the recurring dream of his death and the tunnel. She had the dream a few times over the last year, leaving her mind scattered and her body shaking in the middle of the night.

They reached the Viscounts Keep and made their way through the great hall to the guards barracks. Hawke scanned the room quickly, spotting Aveline by what looked like a list pinned to a post on the back wall.

"Aveline!" Hawke greeted her busy looking friend with a huge smile. Hawke had missed her.

"Hawke," Aveline responded briefly as she finished looking at the list. Then, seemingly remembering herself, she turned to Hawke.

"I'm sorry," she offered a smile. "It feels like we just talked." She grasped Hawke's forearm in a warriors greeting. Hawke returned the gesture. "I've been keeping an eye on you." Hawke frowned at this. Aveline only shrugged.

"Information is one of the few perks of this job. Watch Bartrand. He's a son of a bitch."

"You know I don't like having people watch me," Hawke pouted at her friend.

"Saves me from camping on your doorstep," Aveline shrugged. "After all we went through to get here…" she grew solemn a moment. She shook her head, clearing it. "Well… you're no child, but I take care of my friends," she smiled at the rogue. "Besides, the places they have me patrolling, I've got time."

"A person in your position seems like they would learn some profitable information," Hawke prodded with a completely innocent look on her face. Aveline laughed.

"You know better than to ask that," she looked at Hawke with amusement.

"One day, you'll be frustrated enough to go for it," Hawke chuckled quietly. Aveline sighed.

"It's like I'm sitting on my hands… There are dangerous people in the city," she scowled.

"Well, if there's anything I can do, I'd be happy to help," Hawke offered.

"Actually…" Aveline pondered a moment. "I might have a job for you if you're up for it."

"Of course! What do you need?"

Aveline proceeded to explain that there was word of an ambush set to attack in three days. She wanted to take care of it. Telling her she'd help, Hawke bid her friend farewell and made her way out with Varric and Bethany in tow.

On her way back to Lowtown, Hawke ran into both Lady Elegant as well as Worthy, the dwarf. She exchanged a few words with each of them before taking her leave.

"This is me," Varric spoke as they neared the Hanged Man. Hawke nodded.

"Let me know if you need me for anything," she said, looking down at the dwarf.

"If you have time tonight," he said, "I'd like to talk to you about a few things. I'm in the room at the top of the stairs in the back."

"Right. I'll see you later then," she smiled briefly at the dwarf. He returned the smile before disappearing behind the door of the tavern.

Hawke and Bethany traveled the rest of the way back to Gamlen's. Upon entering the house, Hawke was greeted by her mother.

"Welcome home," she greeted the sisters warmly. Gamlen was sitting by the fireplace, seemingly occupied. "Someone dropped off a letter for you while you were out, Ellendrya."

"Not that Gamlen tried to read it first, I'm sure," Bethany whispered to her sister. Hawke laughed. Thanking her mother, Hawke made her way over to her desk. Upon it sat a letter containing a letter from Athenril. Hawke was surprised to be hearing from the elf so soon, but opened the letter regardless.

Hawke,

You might be interested in something that's come up. A contact of mine, a dwarf by the name of Anso, is asking around for someone competent regarding a job, and I suggested you. He's always paid well if you remember, so if I were you, I'd check into it before someone else snaps it up. He said he'll be in the Lowtown Bazaar tonight.

Athenril

Hawke felt a spark of annoyance at the extremely short notice, but was grateful all the same. She had to smile at the fact that Athenril was still looking out for them in her own way.

"Bethany," Hawke called her sister over.

"What is it?" the mage asked, peering over her sisters' shoulder.

"Would you mind accompanying me to the Hanged Man tonight? I have… somewhere I'd like to go afterwards," she said, glancing at their mother. Leandra was ecstatic that they were finally out of Athenril's service. Even though Hawke never told her specifically what they were doing for the smuggler, Leandra wasn't daft. She knew most of their work was illegal in nature, and she didn't exactly approve.

"Of course," Bethany nodded in understanding.

That night, Hawke and Bethany made their way to the Hanged Man. It was still relatively early when they arrived, so there weren't many people. Bethany looked around nervously. Hawke made her way to the back of the main floor and climbed the stairs, entering the room Varric told her was his. The door was open, but Varric wasn't in sight. Hawke knocked tentatively.

"Varric?" she called. At his name, Varric appeared from around the corner.

"Hawke!" he greeted her, grinning. "You're early." Hawke only shrugged.

"I might have a job later, so I figured I'd try and fit it all in."

"Well it's good you came. Come in! Make yourselves comfortable," he led them in, showing them to a sort of parlor with a fireplace and a table in the middle of the room. Bethany sat while Hawke and Varric remained standing.

"What is it you wanted to speak with me about?"

"Right. Here's the thing," he said, getting straight to the point. "We need to find a way into the Deep Roads. Bartrand can lead us to the right place once we're down there, but we need a good entrance."

"Any entrance would do, wouldn't it? Unless there was a dragon sitting in it I suppose…" she mused mostly to herself. Varric chuckled briefly before continuing.

"Fortunately, I've received some information. There's a Grey Warden in the city. If anyone knows how to get down there, it'll be him."

"Well Varric, it sounds like you have it all planned out," Hawke grinned at the dwarf. She couldn't help it. She liked how he was down to business and not too serious at the same time. He was quite amiable, she had to give him that.

"And that, messere, is why I'm here," he grinned, giving her a mock bow.

"Where do we find this Warden?" Bethany spoke up.

"Supposedly, this Grey Warden came in with some Fereldan refugees not long ago," he answered. "A Lowtown woman named Lirene has been helping the refugees. We talk to her, maybe we can find out where he is."

"Maybe?" Hawke raised a brow at the dwarf.

"Nothing's ever guaranteed," he shrugged. "I'll keep after my contacts; see if I can drum up any other work while we find him."

"Speaking of work," Hawke began, "I received a letter from Athenril today. Says she has work. I'm supposed to meet a dwarf by the name of Anso tonight in Lowtown if you'd like to tag along."

"Anso… The name rings a bell. Probably doesn't surface a lot. Anyways, I would be happy to come along," Varric responded.

"Glad to have you along," Hawke said as the headed out the door. It was long past sundown, so Hawke decided it was appropriate to head over to meet this Anso character. Athenril didn't give her any details on the dwarf or the nature of the job, so Hawke and her group were on their own on this one.

"Should we see if Aveline is available?" Bethany asked her sister, a somewhat perplexed look on her face.

"If Athenril sent the job along, with no details whatsoever, how legal do you think this is going to be?" Hawke only glanced back at the mage.

"Well… I suppose your right."

They walked the rest of the way in mostly silence, besides Varric's occasional comments on this or that. It was eerily quiet, which immediately put Hawke on edge. It was too quiet. Too calm. Hawke kept her eyes darting around their surroundings. She could tell that Varric sensed it too when he stopped talking. Bethany was tense as well. Hawke had an uneasy feeling, thought she couldn't place why.

Surprisingly, they made it to the meeting point without trouble. Hawke spotted the dwarf standing between a wagon and some crates, his back turned to them.

"Anso?" Hawke inquired as they reached the dwarf. Jumping, the dwarf let out a yelp of surprise and spun around.

"Gah! Ancestors human! You can't just sneak up on someone like that!" He exclaimed, his eyes darting around nervously.

"My apologies," Hawke had to keep herself from laughing. "I didn't mean to scare you." Varric chuckled behind her.

"Are you the one that smuggler told me about? The one looking for… work?" he said carefully. Hawke gave him a look when he hesitated.

"That's correct. I used to work for Athenril if that's what you're asking."

"Yes it is! I mean- that is… my apologies human. I haven't been on the surface very long. I keep thinking I'll fall into that sky any minute now," he laughed nervously. Varric laughed outright.

"Bartrand used to be like that," he chuckled. "Got jumpy every time he stepped outside." Hawke just rolled her eyes in amusement at her companion before turning back to Anso.

"Anyways, I digress," the dwarf shook his head. "I need some help… Rather badly in fact. Some product of mine has been… misplaced…" he began.

"Misplaced or stolen?" Hawke raised an eyebrow at the dwarf.

"Well… the men who were supposed to deliver it decided not to. If you retrieve my property I could reward you handsomely," Anso said with a strange tone. Hawke was beginning to like this less and less already. The fact he seemed reluctant to tell her things strictly worried her.

"Just what did these men steal?" Hawke asked. Anso laughed nervously… again.

"Did I say steal? I don't know if I would go that far. They seemed like perfectly reasonable smugglers. They smiled and everything!"

"Smugglers? So this wasn't just a simple delivery now was it?" Hawke stared sternly at the dwarf.

"Er… the goods are valuable… and illegal," he scratched the back of his head uncertainly. "My client wants them very, very badly! You know how Templars can be."

"So you're smuggling lyrium to the Templars?" Good thing I didn't bring Aveline… Hawke thought.

"Maker's Breath… Between the Chantry, the Carta, and the Coterie…" Varric grumbled to himself.

"Sshhh! By the Paragons, not sound loudly!" Anso flailed his hands in the air in front of him. "My word… I'm not cut out for this," he groaned in despair. "I should've taken that job sweeping stables like mother said…"

"Just relax. I'll get your goods for you," Hawke assured him.

"Splendid!" Anso's eyes filled with relief. "My information tells me they've taken the cargo to a warehouse in the alienage."

The alienage? Why would they go there? Hawke wondered to herself. "Very well. We'll return when the job is done."

After they had walked of sight of the jumpy dwarf, Varric moved to walk next to Hawke.

"D'you get the feeling he might've, say… left something out?" He asked her, keeping his voice low. Hawke nodded.

"We won't know until we get there," she replied, and continued towards the alienage.

When they neared the alienage, Hawke was on edge. They just about reached the entrance when Hawke slowed their pace. She listened intently, hearing voices from around the corner and down the stairs, which led to the main center of the area. Touching a finger to her lips, Hawke pressed herself against the wall and peeked around the corner. There, she saw a group of armed men. Clad in black, their faces were hidden behind gray helms. There were archers scattered around the place, bows drawn and held loosely in their hands. Turning back to Bethany and Varric, she motioned for Varric to stay at the top of the stairs and for Bethany to follow her.

Realizing she was once again the only melee warrior, she grimaced slightly and took a deep breath before motioning to her group to move.

Hawke didn't even bother to taunt or speak at the armed group as she hurled three throwing knives into the throats and chests of some of the men. She saw Varric launch a few arrows, burying them solidly in the chests of two men. As the rest of the company began to realize what was happening, swords were drawn and arrows knocked. Bethany was holding her own as she and Hawke kept Varric out of the fray.

Dodging a thrust from one of the men's blades, Hawke pushed her dagger through the opening she left him and through his chest.

They finished off the rest of the men without incident. When the fray ended, Hawke wiped her blades on a man's tunic. She was slightly disconcerted at how much easier it had become to fight against and hill her enemies. Given the fact, she knew she had to do what was necessary in order to take care of herself and her family.

"Think there's more inside?" Bethany asked, her staff still in hand.

"Always best to assume the worst, Sunshine," Varric responded, using his nickname for her that he had come up with earlier that day. He simply remarked that it just came to him and seemed to stick.

"You both ready?" Hawke recalled their attention. They both nodded, and Hawke proceeded towards the door.

"Would you like to do the honors?" Varric asked their rogue leader.

"Gladly," she half grinned at him before kicking down the flimsy door.

The men inside paused a moment in surprise before drawing their weapons. As with the guards outside, Hawke, Bethany, and Varric dispatched the men rather quickly before checking each room.

There were a few more men hiding in each of the two side rooms, but they were easily dealt with. Spotting a chest in the corner of one of the rooms, Hawke made her way over to it. It was a small chest with an adorned slot for a key on the front of it. Inspecting it, Hawke pulled out her various tools, and carefully picked the lock with ease.

"Empty…" Hawke nearly growled as she peered inside the chest. Varric looked over her shoulder and scowled.

"What should we do?" Bethany asked from behind her. Hawke sighed.

"I suppose we go break the bad news to Anso," she answered begrudgingly. Then she mostly said to herself, "He better have some answers."

Hawke stood from her crouched position in front of the chest and turned, marching briskly out the door. Varric shot Bethany a, what does that mean? look, to which Bethany simply smiled and shook her head. Essentially, it meant the rogue was annoyed.

Hawke's annoyance also shot through the roof when she stepped outside.

"That's not the elf!" A woman with cropped sandy blond hair and an angular face said in a thick accent.

"Slavers?" Varric said under his breath with surprise. "Why are they here?" He gestured to the insignia on the woman's armor.

"It doesn't matter! We were told to kill whoever entered the house," A man next to the slaver woman said. He drew his two handed blade.

Before anyone made a move, Bethany sent a huge blast of fire towards the slavers, sanding the majority of them reeling back. Hawke already had her weapons drawn and leaped into the fighting. Varric and Bethany remained behind her, firing from a safe distance. They picked off those who tried to flank or surround their leader as she cut her way through each wave of slavers, using her frustration as energy. After what seemed like ages of stabbing, dodging, and cutting, the fighting ended, leaving Ellendrya panting and covered in a thin layer of sweat. She had a shallow cut on her forearm and another minor gash on her calf, but she otherwise remained unscathed. Bethany and Varric were in a similar condition; weary, but generally uninjured. Hawke wiped her blades clean of the blood before returning them to the sheaths on her back.

"Anso better have some answers," Hawke growled, mostly to herself. The whole ambush thing wasn't her favorite to deal with. She strode off towards Lowtown.

Unfortunately, before she could go very far, a man clad similarly as the previous slavers rounded a corner and blocked their path. He wasn't an outstanding man, and Hawke had no patience for any more delays. He was of medium size and build with sharp black eyes and black hair to match with a long sword strapped to his back. Hawke saw the anger and annoyance in his eyes and tensed.

"I don't know who you think you are, friend," he spat, "but you've made a serious mistake coming here." Hawke glared at the man in front of her, lifting her chin, almost challenging him. The man's jaw clenched before he commanded, "Lieutenant! I want everyone in the clearing! Now!" he bellowed. Hawke's hands hovered by her daggers. All was silent for a few moments before another soldier stumbled out from around the corner. Hawke could hear his blood splattering against the ground as it oozed out from multiple lacerations on his body. The captain spun around.

"Cap-tain…" the soldier managed to choke out before collapsing forward with thud. The captain only looked on in shock as an elf followed from where the soldier made his appearance.

"Your men are dead," the elf said in a dangerous voice. Hawke noticed the striking green of his eyes and the stark silver of his hair. She also took note of the strange markings that adorned his skin. She had a brief moment of recognition, but it was gone before she could place it. "Your trap has failed, so I suggest you run back to your master while you can," he spoke again, breaking Hawke out of her thoughts as his green eyes met her gray ones.

"You're going nowhere, slave!" the captain retained his confidence as he grabbed the elf's shoulder. A flash of anger passed through the elf's eyes as he whirled on the captain, ripping his hand away from his shoulder.

"I am not a slave," he growled dangerously. His marking began to glow. Hawke couldn't help but flinch as she saw the elf's hand pass through the captain's chest. She heard a thick crack and the sound of something popping as the captain's eyes grew wide, and he slumped to the ground. The elf stood and took a moment to calm himself before turning back towards Hawke and her companions. As the anger receded from his eyes, he spoke.

"I must apologize," he said rather blandly. "When I asked Anso to provide a distraction for the hunters, I had no idea they'd be so… numerous."

"I take it these men were looking for you," Hawke asked, but it was more of a statement.

"Correct," the elf paced a few steps away before turning towards her. "My name is Fenris. These Imperial bounty hunters were seeking to recover a magister's lost property, namely myself. They were seeking to lure me into the open. Crude as their methods were, I could not face them alone," he frowned. "Thankfully, Anso chose wisely," he gestured to Hawke and her group.

"If they were really trying to recapture you, I'm happy I helped," Hawke said, some of her previous frustration and annoyance melting away. A look of surprise passed briefly over Fenris's face.

"I have met few in my travels who have sought anything more than personal gain," he clarified. Then he asked, "If I may ask: what was in the chest? The one they kept in the house?"

"It was empty." Fenris sighed.

"I suppose it was too much to hope for," he shrugged. "Even so, I had to know."

"Were you expecting something else?" Hawke asked curiously. Varric and Bethany were off looting some of the bodies for coin or anything else of use.

"I was," he replied slowly, "but I shouldn't have. It was bait, nothing more."

Hawke studied the elf for a moment before saying, "You know, you didn't need to lie to get my help."

"That remains to be seen," he said flatly before moving to the side of the dead captain and removing his belt pouch. Bethany and Varric returned to Hawke's side, watching the elf as he straightened. Pulling out a small pendant, Fenris scowled.

"It is as I thought," he growled. "My former master accompanied them to the city."

"So what does that mean for you?" Hawke inquired.

"I know you have questions, but I must confront him before he flees," Fenris said urgently. "I will need your help."

Hawke only glanced at her two companions who nodded before she said, "If it means fighting more slavers, I'll help you." Fenris bowed his head slightly in what seemed like relief and thanks.

"I'll find a way to repay you. I swear it."

"What do you need us to do?"

"The magister is staying at a mansion in Hightown," he said hastily. "We should proceed immediately. We must enter before morning."

"Very well, lead the way."

Fenris set off at a brisk pace with his long legs. Hawke and Bethany managed to keep up with his long strides, but Varric, on his short dwarvish legs, had to pretty much jog to keep pace. As they walked in silence, Hawke studied the elf walking before her. He was rather tall, about four inches or so taller than Ellendrya's 5'6". He had long limbs with lean, tense muscle. He wore strange armor. It was mostly similar to Ellendrya's light armor, but had a spiked metal chest plate and graves. The two handed sword on his back looked well used and cared for. The markings that adorned his skin were pale in color, but glowed a soft blue in the darkness. The followed the curves and lines of his body, at least what she could see, and ended neatly on his neck and chin.

"See something you like?" Varric brought Hawke out of her thoughts. She stumbled a bit.

"Wha-?" she stuttered, caught rather off guard.

"You've been staring at him the whole way," he grinned at her mischievously.

"I am not staring at him," she said, keeping her voice low. She was thankful for the darkness, lest Varric see her blush.

"Sure thing, Hawke. Whatever helps you sleep at night." Hawke could only shake her head and march ahead of her new dwarf friend.

They reached Hightown quickly, stopping briefly in front of the mansion.

"This is it," Fenris said as they saw the mansion. "Danarius may know we're here. I wouldn't put it past him," Fenris smiled harshly, baring his teeth.

"Before we go, who exactly is this Danarius?" Hawke asked him. She knew it most likely wasn't the best time, but she was tired of going into missions blind.

"He is a magister of the Tevinter Imperium," he explained rather calmly.

"Oh, that's all? Nothing to worry about then," Varric shrugged sarcastically. Fenris ignored the dwarf's comment and continued.

"There, he is a wealthy mage with great influence. Here, he is but a man who sweats like any other when death comes for him." To Hawke, it looked as if though Fenris was imagining holding the man's life in the palm of his hand, and that worried her a bit. Blind rage and need for revenge never ended well.

"Well, let's not wait any longer then," she said, turning to face the mansion.

"Agreed."