Here's the newest chapter! This time we'll see a little more from Varric.
"Let the game begin!" Varric announces as he shuts the door to the office. He walks around the table he has Donnic and another guard bring end. He and Fenris brought in the chairs.
Varric walks around the table and past his already seated guests. He sits right beside Cullen and Drenis who sat at the head of the table. At the other end sat Harding. In the other seats sat Isabela, Fenris, Aveline, Donnic, the grey wardens Alistair, and Surana, as well as former seeker Cassandra. There was one empty seat left between Cassandra and Varric.
"Are we still expecting someone Varric?" Drenis asks as Varric pulls out his deck of cards. He begins shuffling them.
Varric cuts the deck before answering. "No. I just thought it would be nice to have an extra seat for any unexpected guests." He answers. He passes the cards out before making his bet. Fenris glares at his cards, Isabella smiles and casts a glance at Fenris's hand, Harding was staring at her hand, Alistair was frowning, Drenis didn't bother showing how she felt about her hand, Cullen had refused to play, Aveline still held a reluctant look on her face, Donnic was enjoying himself, Cassandra was biting her lip,and the hero of Ferelden was smiling.
"Looks like this will be quote the game."
"Indeed." Agrees Isabella.
"Why did you invite us dwarf?" Fenris asks as he makes a decision.
"I've heard you're the best pirate around Isabela." Drenis says.
"I see someone's a fan. Care for a more personal interview Lavellan?" Isabela flirts. Fenris looks at her with his usual grim face.
"No. None needed. If you agree to help us. Varric has vouched for you." Drenis says.
"I fold." Calls Cassandra.
"Can't we just talk about what we came here to talk about? Why do we have to play this game Varric?" Aveline asks.
"You sure know how to kill the mood Red." Varric replies.
"I'm enjoying myself." Neira Surana says as everyone else places down their hands. She won.
"Uh-huh." Mumbles Alistair.
"Well we do have some things to talk about. Varric thought it best to counter the grim talk with a game." Drenis answers.
"Then why are the grey wardens here?" Donnic asks as Isabela now shuffles the cards.
"They have information and are on our side." Cullen replies. He crosses his arms and leans back in his chair.
"Limited information but we have a few ways of gaining more. Besides I'm sure nightingale will already be aiding you all. You'll need more fighters then spies. We can be both." Neira answers.
"Now for the elephant in the room." Varric begins. Alistair and Fenris fold. "What do we do about Fen'Harel?"
"We need to gather information first." Cassandra says.
"I disagree. We can do nothing with information if we have no one to act on it. We need more allies. People we know we can trust." Cullen states.
"I know a few people. Some are grey wardens but they won't mind keeping a few things from the order." Alistair says.
"I fold." Donnic calls out.
Aveline glares at her cards before folding as well.
"I rather keep the wardens out of this." Drenis says.
"I have some very loyal guards who can help." Aveline says.
"Great." Cullen says cheerfully.
"The grey wardens can help. We may categorize fighting darkspawn as our main priority but we do know how to fight. We're less likely to find spies amongst our numbers, and fighting darkspawn gives us a strong resistance to elements that would slow others. Camping and traveling for seven years can toughen up even the weakest fool." Neira argues.
"Still what about the grey wardens you don't tell?" Drenis challenges.
"Weisshaupt won't find out." Alistair assures. "It would be the first time we went behind them. If they do find out they'll assume that we were striking out on our own again. We have a history of that. It's because we didn't have senior wardens around to show us how to behave like real wardens." He jokes. "You know, since they all died before they could."
Everyone shows their hands and Isabela won this time. Drenis shuffles the deck and passes out everyone's new hands.
"I suppose all grey wardens have such a terrible sense of humor." Fenris remarks.
"Nope. Him and Anders were just oddballs. Most grey wardens have little or no sense of humor." Neira says.
"See they're a perfect fit for you Spikey." Varric laughs at the death glare Fenris gives him.
"I don't have a death wish." Fenris remarks grimly.
"If only you had told Hawke that. I'm sure she wouldn't have dragged to all those places if you had." Aveline says as she rearranges her cards.
Fenris rolls his eyes. They continue to play the game, the leading three members were Isabela, Varric, and the Hero of Ferelden. Eventually the others began to fold more and it was clear the only three who were still really playing the game was Varric, Isabella, and Surana. The others took to talking about the situation and future plans while the cards were pointlessly passed out.
"So are matters settled now?" Aveline asks as the last round begins.
"I believe so." Cullen says. "As long as everyone is clear about the parts they shall play." He says and leers at the rogues still playing the game with the mage.
"Don't worry we'll play nice and go along for now." Isabella says as Fenris shakes his head. His face turns pink and it was clear Isabella was playing a different kind of game with him under the table. Aveline actually scoots a bit farther from them, visibly disgusted.
"Ahmm." Cullen coughs to clear his throat. "Then we shall next see each other for the next game. Which should be a few nights from now."
Everyone agrees and Cullen smiles. he starts getting up but Drenis stops him. "The game isn't over yet. Some of us didn't play last time." She says with a wicked grin.
"I really don't think that's necessary." Cullen insists.
"Of course it is. Come on Cullen. Sit down back down. One more game and then everyone will go home."
"Well, most of us at least." Isabella adds with a giggle before winking at Merrill.
"She's right. I'm staying at the Hanged Man tonight. I leave for home in the morning."
"I don't think that's what the pirate queen meant Daisy." Varric says with a small curl of his lips and a shake of his head. As if he was suddenly feeling a lot more tired than usual. In a way he was. This felt just like old times, with a few additions. He wouldn't be lying if he said that he wished the seeker hadn't come, or the wardens.
Varric deals and passes out the cards. Even Cassandra and Cullen play this time. In the end Isabella cheated and Merrill won. So she won the pot this time. Which was probably a good thing because Merrill came back broke and Varric had been paying for her room and board.
"Daisy, all I'm saying is that you may want to walk back with Isabella and Fenris. Kirkwall is still Kirkwall after all." Varric says and Daisy smiles.
"I'll be fine Varric. I can handle myself."
"I don't doubt you're magic." He says with a sigh. Daisy gives him a hug before leaving. Varric looks over at Aveline who gives him a nod before leaving with Donnic moments later. At least he was sure Daisy was getting home safe tonight. He was sure Carver would try to skin him alive if anything happened to her as well. Junior was even more determined to make a name for himself after his sister's death. He missed her more then he would say, but the thing about having known him before he was a warden, Varric could read Carver's tales. No matter how much he had learned or at least tried to learn how to hide them. Leaning against the door frame Varric watches as everyone leaves Aveline's office, in either groups of two or singles. The last ones to leave were the Inquisitor and Cullen. He could tell the Inquisitor felt strained. He didn't have to spy on her or read her tales. She told him. The inquisitor trusted few these days. Not that Varric could blame her.
They had all trusted Solas. Now he was going to destroy them all. Varric would die before he allowed that to happen. He would prefer it if he didn't but Hawke hadn't sacrificed her life for everyone just so they could all be destroyed by a crazed mage. Even if he was ancient. Mages, templars, the war was over yet those words were still causing trouble. TItles, something everyone fights for. That and freedom. Funny enough people could get drunk off of both. Varric continues to amble through the halls as he shifts through his thoughts. He closes the door to his own office and looks over at the other door way. It led to his bedroom, but he hasn't used it once. He never sleeps here in this building, even though many of the nobles and city officials expect him too.
The thought makes Varric laugh. Him sleeping in that bed. If he had learned anything from his time with Hawke it was that moving up in the world and enjoying the benefits often led to more trouble than you would ever think. The last viscount had been killed by qunari. What would happen to him?
"That's what happens when you try to change things Varric. Things change." Varric quickly looks for the source of the voice before he realizes it was his mind playing tricks on him again. Those were some of the last words she ever said to him and of course, she was right. Somehow in someway, even if it wasn't always the way you'd expect, Hawke was right. Now he was changing things even more. For the better. He was making Krikwall safer, or at least safer than what it had been during the war between templars and mages. The city was slowly being rebuilt. From his window he could see the place where Hawke's estate once stood. After they had burnt it down the street had scorch marks on it and only the old stones remain. Currently the inquisitor and Cullen lived there in a wooden house that was slowly being built and expanded to include the stone walls and layout. It wouldn't be HAwke's place, but that was for the best. He wasn't sure if he could handle anyone but Hawke living in that estate. Maybe it was sad, or foolish, if he was being honest it was both, but he was glad the Hawke estate was gone, that Junior and he had burnt it down, as one final goodbye to their favorite mage.
Varric grabs a glass pours himself a drink and holds it out of the window as he lazes back against the panning. "Well Hawke, if things don't go as plan," He stops. He didn't know if he' would be joining Hawke wherever she is or if he would return to the darned stone. "We all may be following after you a little sooner than planned." He drinks the alcoholic drink as if it was nothing, and compared to what they use to drink together it really was nothing. He screws his face as the poor taste goes down. "I have to get myself some better drinks. Even Isabella wouldn't drink this stuff."
I hope you've enjoyed. Next chapter shall be posted next Friday. All constructive criticism is welcomed.
The burning of Hawke's house is actually a refernce to another story I wrote a few months ago. It's on Quotev and I think maybe AOW under the story called, Dragon Age: Secrets locked away. The title of the chapter is A Talk A Little on the Mournful Side if you want to check it out.
P.S. Yes I am hinting at Varric and . I regret nothing.