Chapter Five

When Merrill answered the knock on the door, she wasn't expecting to see the new Viscountess standing there, "Hawke!...I mean, Lady Evelyn...no, that's not quite right either...Your Grace?...no, that seems too formal" She fidgeted nervously, "I'm sorry, I'm not sure what to call you now."

Evelyn sighed, "Just call me Hawke, Merrill. Can I come in?," she smiled.

"Of course. I just put a kettle over the fire. Would you like some tea?"

"Bless you, Merrill, absolutely." Evelyn made her way in and took a seat by the fire. Merrill's tea was an exotic blend that the dalish used. It was a heavenly treat!

"Are you here to discuss Isabella's outing that she has planned? She and I were going over some ideas, and we have to get you into some lovely dresses, so that'll be fun,too," she handed her guest a cup of tea.

Evelyn breathed in the aroma and took a sip. She had gotten the recipe, and she'd tried to make it herself, but it never turned out quite like this. "I'm sorry, Merrill, but I'm afraid this isn't a social call. I need your help with something," then she just realized the time, "Isabella's been by this morning, already? I didn't think she got up before late-afternoon."

"What? Oh no...she dropped by last night on her way home."

"Ah, of course." She took another sip of tea.

"What's this you needed my help with?"

Evelyn put down the cup of tea and pulled out the vial. She gave it to Merrill, "I need you to see what you can do with that."

Merrill's eyes got wide as she looked at it, "Is this what I think it is? Is it for whom I think it is? What do you want me to do? And where did you get it?"

"Wow, ok...well, it's supposed to be a phylactery for Anders...," she told Merrill the entire story, only omitting the part about the Templars knowing far too much about her comrades than she felt comfortable with.

"So, basically you want me to try and figure out how to turn this into a phylactery? Even though the blood is tainted, the process is secretive, we don't know what has already been done to it and you've never approved of using blood magic before?"

"Er...yes", Evelyn admitted and grimaced.

"Well...ok then," Merrill smiled, "It may be better if we started with what it should do than how it should get there. What is a phylactery used for exactly?"

"I'm not sure everything it's used for, but I want it so that if he escapes we'll have a way to track him. As far as I know, that's it's main purpose."

"That's easy then. Instead of trying something complicated, all we really have to do is make it so that this blood can find it's source. It shouldn't matter if it's tainted or not, as far as I know. Let me see what I can find and I'll get back to you. Do you mind leaving this with me? I won't need it until I'm ready anyway, if you want to take it."

"Go ahead and keep it. I'd prefer you try something until it works, than me having to run over here every time you think you're getting close. Just keep in mind that it is tainted and please be careful with it, ok?"

"Absolutely, yes. One more thing, can you give me a gold coin? If it's going to work the way I think it will, I'll need supplies."

Evelyn smiled and shrugged, "Here, take two, just in case," she hugged Merrill and said, "I have to get back to the Keep, but I'll be back later to see how it's going."

After she left, she passed by her house with instructions for Bodahn to take the letter to the Hanged Man and give it to Varric, and to tell him that it was extremely urgent. She didn't want to send it directly from her own house or the keep, as Cullen had made her slightly paranoid, and she certainly didn't want to hire anyone she didn't know, who she may not be able to trust. With Varric's contacts, he would be able to ensure its proper delivery.

With that taken care of, she made her way back to the keep. With the wheels she had set into motion, today was actually shaping up to be a very good day already.