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III) Merrill
The sky was achingly blue.
'How dare it' Merrill thought. 'How dare the world be so beautiful on a day where Hawke might...might be...'
A young elven boy on an errand to Hightown waved at her as she started down the steps to Lowtown. She glared at him, and the boy took a step back, looking slightly unnerved.
She didn't feel like herself. All of her anxiety over Hawke was transforming into anger, and this in turn made her even more angry. With her eyebrows drawn together in a deep scowl and her face as dark as a thunder cloud, Merrill set off towards the Alienage.
She was almost at her house when an elven woman came hurrying over to her from across the square.
"Merrill!" the woman exclaimed, relief painting her features. "You're alive! Thank the Maker! We had no idea- someone said they'd seen at the Keep during the attack... Are you all right?"
"I'm fine, Mara" Merrill said tightly. "Just... leave it. Please."
"But Merrill..."
"I said leave it!" Merrill snapped, stalking inside her house and slamming the door behind her, leaving the poor elf woman to stare after her in confusion.
Once inside, Merrill leant against the door, breathing heavily.
'Oh lethallan...' she thought, her rage leaving her as anxiety returned to take it's place. 'Please. Pull through this...