Author's Note:
To clarify a later point: Elena Amell is Hawke's OC cousin, she sort of takes the role of F!Hawke, but is more of a background character. While Hawke is pro-templar, she is pro-mage, and as a result she is a close friend of Anders. She was also in a relationship with Isabela, which will be referenced in a brief discussion later.
The next morning they were up at dawn. Saemus borrowed some of Hawke's clothes, as the ones he'd worn the night before had become wrinkled when he slept. During the night he'd dreamt that Ashaad was holding him, and when he woke to find himself in Hawke's arms instead, he was grateful.
"You spoke to him in your sleep." The mage told him, and Saemus smiled at that.
Mornings in the compound were nothing to be excited about. The Qunari rose from their slumber and moved quickly to get started on the droll tasks that filled their days. As always, the Arishok sat atop his throne, watching his people move about with little interest.
Saemus' approach caught his attention. The giant stood and descended the steps to meet him- a gesture that caused many of the bustling oxmen to stop their work and watch.
"Ashaad is dead." Saemus declared, "He was killed while protecting me from a mercenary group who wished to return me to my father."
The Arishok did not speak, but merely listened.
"If you would allow it, I wish to swear myself to the Qun. Convert, and be named Viddathari."
"I believed your conversion would only come at my scout's behest." The Arishok said, "To see you accept the Qun alone is… surprising." The giant looked to Hawke and remarked, "You are right to award him respect, Hawke."
The mage simply nodded.
"What is your reason for choosing to join our people?" The Arishok questioned, his gaze scrutinizing.
"Nothing in my life was right until I met Ashaad." Saemus admitted, "He taught me much, and I truly believe the Qun is what I've been seeking."
"So it is." The Arishok said, his head bowing slightly, "Return tonight so that we may induct you into the ranks of Viddathari."
A smile crossed Saemus' lips, and he bowed, "Thank you, Arishok"
The giant turned to ascend the steps, and Hawke and Saemus headed towards the gates, but then the great horned man halted.
"Saemus" The boy turned to see the Arishok's eyes on him oncemore, "Ashaad was wise to take you as his bondmate, and the sacrifice he made will not be forgotten."
"Kost esaam kata, Arishok." Saemus said, and with that they departed.
They returned to the estate, as Saemus had no intention of going home. It was fine, Hawke had said, and that his door would always be open. Still the nobleman had work to do, and as they conversed Hawke was pulling on his gear, one piece at a time.
"You'll likely be gone when I return." Hawke stated, pulling on a new pair of trousers, "Will you make it to the compound alright?"
"Of course," Saemus laughed, "I've been all over this city, all I needed is my cloak."
"You know what I mean, Saemus. The situation here has become tense." He told him, "And when word gets out that you've converted, you can expect there will be trouble." Then added, "Just last week I had to put down a crazed elf who wanted to frame the Qunari, all because her kinsmen were turning to the Qun."
"I know." The boy sighed, "I heard my father talking about it. She set barrels of poison gas off in Lowtown, didn't she?"
"Yes, and… Saemus, I should encourage you to tell your father about this," Hawke spoke, and a grin crossed his lips, "But honestly, I have a list longer than my staff of things my mother doesn't know."
"Is that so?" Saemus raised a brow, "What's at the top?"
Hawke's smile grew soft, and he worked to adjust the pouch on his hip, "Letting her know that I'll never marry any woman she chooses for me." Then added, "And the second thing from the top is telling her why."
"Well, I will tell him." Saemus said, "Eventually."
"Perhaps after the ceremony would be best." Hawke remarked, "Otherwise he may try and stop you."
Saemus nodded, "The induction is a private thing anyway. I doubt the Arishok would even let you attend."
"That's alright, I mean, the hard part's over now." Hawke shrugged.
"I couldn't have done this without you." The boy laughed, "Will you be up here in Hightown by yourself?"
"For the foreseeable future? Yes." Then added, "I had meant to ask: Are Viddathari allowed to leave the compound?"
"Yes, but I doubt I'll have much time." Saemus replied, "I know only a little of the Qunlat, so I'd guess that learning it will be the bulk of my day. Then there's religious studies, and absorbing the culture, and whatever tasks I'm given." His eyes fell on Hawke, who seemed saddened by this, "But there will also be personal time, and since my father won't wish to see his heathen son, I'll happily spend it with you."
"You'll take care of yourself, won't you?" Hawke asked, buttoning his shirt.
"Yes, now go on and have an adventure." Saemus smiled.
"You too." Hawke said, hugging him briefly. The mage turned to leave, grabbing his staff, then departing. He wanted to stay, to see him off, but it wouldn't be the last time they saw each other. Even if everything else changed, they would always be friends- that much he knew.
"Where are Varric and Anders?" Hawke asked the group, "I thought they were going to meet us here?"
"I haven't seen Varric all day." Elena shrugged, "Anders is on his way, and I should tell you… Isabela took ship last night."
"And Fenris went with her." They both turned to see Anders coming over to them, "I saw the two of them at the docks when I was… at the docks."
Elena knew full well that Anders had been smuggling more mages out of the city, a task she sometimes helped with. Hawke, on the other hand, was better known for following the rules: Mages were sent to the circle, and those that fought were killed unless they surrendered.
"We can't expect the Templars to make an effort if we don't." Hawke would say, and though Anders believed his actions were futile, no one disagreed with him openly.
Still, the healer leaked suspicion often, but Hawke had learned that it was better not to ask.
"So they're both gone then?" Hawke asked, "I know why Fenris left, but…"
"If someone would like to explain what's going on, I'd be grateful." Anders quipped.
"First, have you seen Varric?"
"Not since we went to the Keep." Anders replied.
That worried him a bit, but he swallowed it for the moment, "To answer your question, I asked more of him than he could give and he left." Hawke summarized, then the healer looked to Elena.
"That's pretty much what happened to me as well." She sighed, "I asked her for love. What did you ask for, Hawke?"
"For him to stay." Hawke replied sadly, but he recovered quickly. He had to. "Enough, we have work to do. Let's grab Merrill and Sebastian and get going."
"Ah yes, the blood mage and the Chantry boy." Anders gave a rough laugh, "I can see this going well."
Saemus left the mansion, saying goodbye to everyone inside before he went. It wasn't as though he was close to them, but without knowing when he would see them again, it just seemed the proper thing to do.
Once he stepped outside he could see the Keep clearly over the gabled roof-tops, and he considered seeing his father once more before handing his life over to the Qun, but he decided against it.
It was when he reached the docks that he realized he was being followed. A hooded figure took every turn that he did, and when he turned to face the fiend he found a familiar face hiding beneath the cloak.
"Sister Petrice" He hissed.
"That's Mother Petrice, actually." She corrected him, "Much has changed while you've been playing house with that heathen-"
"Either tell me why you're following me or I'll report you."
"What to the guard?" She snorted.
"No, to the Arishok." Saemus threatened, "A lot of strange things have been happening, and you always seem to turn up once they're done."
"Fine, though I bear no guilt, I am following you because I wish to stop you from making this mistake."
"You've already told me that I am lost to the Maker, dear Mother." Saemus said, "Has your god changed his mind, or have you forgotten?"
"No, I haven't." Petrice stated bluntly, "I simply wanted to give you one last chance to change your mind before you commit to this path."
"I am already committed." He told her, "And I shall not go back on my word."
He turned and left, and she didn't follow. How the woman knew of his intentions to convert, he couldn't guess. Hawke was the only on he'd told, and though he was Andrastian, he was perfectly certain that he hadn't been the one to tell her.
But it didn't matter, as the gates of the compound opened for him, he disappeared inside.
Hawke returned home near midnight and cleaned off just enough of the dirt and blood to feel content when he sank into bed. His missions were becoming increasingly difficult, he'd noticed, though he had no trouble drifting off to sleep.
There was no light in the sky yet, but the sound of someone pounding on Hawke's door had him staggering down the stairs with his robe halfway tied. He reached the threshold, staff in hand, and drew open the door cautiously.
There stood a beardless dwarf, soaking wet from the rain.
"Varric?" Hawke asked in disbelief, "What are you doing here? What time is it?"
"Remember how I told you I would check into something?" He asked, not really waiting for an answer, "Well I found something. That chantry sister, the one who had the Qunari mage?"
"The one who set us up" Hawke yawned.
"Yeah, Petrice." Varric said, "I found documents from her to that mercenary group who tracked Saemus on the wounded coast."
"The Winters?" The Champion followed.
"She hired them," Varric said, shoving a paper in his face. He took it, trying to force his eyes to focus, but they wouldn't, "Look! She knew he wasn't missing, and she told that bitch to kill the Qunari even if they surrendered!"
"Varric slow down." Hawke said, "And… Maker's breath, come inside."
"No Hawke, there's no time. Just listen." Varric continued, "My sources say she's the one who told the Seneschal that Saemus was on the Wounded Coast, she even told him about the Qunari, and-"
"How do you know she knew he wasn't kidnapped?" Hawke tried.
"She said so in the letter, didn't you look at it?" He was more alert now than before, but Varric didn't care, "Don't you get it, Hawke? The kid's in trouble!" That woke him up, "My guys saw her talking to him before he went into the compound yesterday, and I know something's up. I feel it in my gut."
Hawke felt it too.
"We have to go to the compound, and make sure he's still there." Hawke said, "Afterwards we'll go to the Grand Cleric. If you have proof of what you've told me, then maybe we can stop her before she does something drastic."
"You mean something more drastic?" Varric asked, "You don't have time to change, we need to go."
Lucky for him he'd thrown on his slippers.