Varric finished with a broad smile, "But, Da, that's my pig!"
Kattrin giggled and Carver roared with laughter. Aveline and Anders were smiling. Maker, Anders was devastating handsome when he gave that small smile of his. She was trying so hard not to stare at him but if the ale kept flowing, she wasn't sure how much longer she had before she lacked the ability to stop herself.
They sat in Varric's suite in the Hanged Man, listing to Varric's stories, celebrating Aveline's rise to Guard Captain. Varric was picking up the tab and with four of them drinking, Edwina, one of the servers, had saved herself some trouble and brought them a whole cask of ale. The cask was situated on a shelf behind where Carver sat so he was the designated bartender. Varric sat to his left in his usual spot at the head of the table and Aveline sat to his right. Kattrin was situated between Varric and Anders, and she swore Anders was radiating more heat than the fireplace. Then again, it might be her.
Anders was drinking water again. She never found out why. Before she could ask him, Varric kicked her foot. When she looked at him, he gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. What did he mean by that? Was he a mind reader and didn't want her to ask about the water?
"Where do you get all these stories?" asked Aveline.
"I listen and observe. Everyone has a tale to tell, but the best stories are truth with a little creative flare."
"It seems to me that you do more talking than listening." This came from Carver.
"Well, Junior, I do like the sound of my own voice."
"I'll drink to that!"
After another round of ale was consumed, Varric asked, "So, who's up for a game of diamondback?"
Kattrin groaned audibly and was joined by everyone except Anders, who appeared puzzled. She shook her head at him.
Aveline finished her mug of ale before standing up. "I need to be up early for a meeting with Seneschal Bran. Thank you, Varric, for the drinks."
Varric lifted his mug to her before finishing his drink.
Aveline turned to Kattrin. "And thank you, Hawke. You're a true friend."
Kattrin mimicked Varric and saluted the future Captain of the Guard. Aveline gave her a small bow, and with that, she left.
"Well, if no one is up for diamondback, then I suggest that Kattrin walk Anders home and I teach Junior a lesson in real drinking," Varric said mildly.
"You're on, dwarf!" Carver exclaimed.
"I don't need an escort home. I promise I still know the way," Anders said, smiling.
"Nonsense, Blondie. The streets are dangerous at night. You'd be better off with Hawke watching over you."
"Then who will walk Hawke home?"
"I'll send Junior along to get her after his lesson," Varric said reasonably.
Kattrin quickly finished her drink, trying not to grin from ear to ear. She didn't know Varric's plan but she wasn't going to waste this opportunity. She stood slowly so that no one would see exactly how drunk she was. The room didn't tilt but her vision was a little blurry.
Anders stood and began walking toward the exit, but before she followed, she caught Varric's eye. He winked at her. So, he must have seen her watching Anders. Either she was being too obvious and everyone saw or Varric was being observant. She hoped it was the latter. Trying to curb her rising jubilation, she followed Anders into the cool night.
She walked slowly, pretending to enjoy the night when she was actually trying to sober herself somewhat. Being a gentleman, Anders kept pace with her. Her heart pounded in her chest. She suddenly found herself wondering if he was a good kisser. She remembered stolen nights in the barn with Rylan, kissing and touching each other. The nights that they had been able to sneak away were few and many of them had been ruined by Carver already being in the barn with Peaches. But the nights the barn had been available—
Anders spoke, pulling her out of her thoughts. "I had a friend like you once. Got into all kinds of trouble, dragged me along. Didn't think I'd be doing that again. I got a bit weighty last night when we talked. Sorry for putting that on you."
He was wearing his charming little smile so she grinned broadly back at him. Her drunken state and her joy at being alone with him percolated through her. "It happens a lot. You'd be surprised how people just tell me their darkest secrets. I must look trustworthy."
Anders paused, perusing her with his eyes. She slowly came to a halt while her skin tingled where his eyes caressed her. After finishing their tour of her, his eyes caught hers.
"You look… something. True. Proud. Like even if you don't agree with me, you'll be honest." His smile faded. "I just…" he paused, looking around. The street was empty except for the two of them. He continued. "I hope I didn't seem too selfish when I told you about Justice. I didn't know what would happen. I figured a willing host, a friend… it had to be better than playing the demon and haunting some corpse."
Her heart went out to him. This gentle man had joined with a Fade spirit out of friendship and compassion. She reached out her hand to link with his. "You did the right thing. We can't always predict the outcome of our actions. We can only make them with a true heart."
He laced his warm fingers with hers, pulling her closer to him. With his lips quirked in his small smile, he said, "Kind, wise, and beautiful. You must have made a deal with some demons, yourself." He stopped again, looking abashed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't presume. I just… we've hardly met and I feel like I know you." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Her heart was trying to escape from her chest. She was close enough to him that she could feel his warmth and breathe his herbal scent. His thumb gently caressed the back of her hand. If she just leaned in a little more, she could kiss him.
"Am I making you uncomfortable?" he whispered.
Kattrin's breathing quickened but she couldn't stop smiling. He thought she was beautiful. She moved closer still. If she took a full breath, their chests would meet. "No. Keep telling me I'm beautiful. You can't go wrong with that."
His eyes glittered mischievously. "Oh, I'm sure I can get more creative."
Suddenly, he withdrew from her. Letting go of her hand, he began to walk away from her. "No. I shouldn't do this. I don't want to hurt you."
She felt as if someone had just doused her with cold water. Confused, she just watched him walk away. Recovering and moving quickly, she caught up to him, stumbling a little as she caught his arm. He stopped walking but he wouldn't look at her. "Hurt me? Why would you hurt me?"
He looked so sad. He kept his head down, refusing to look at her. "You saw what I did in the Chantry. That's who I am. A year ago, maybe we could have had something." His voice broke. "But I'm not that man anymore. I'll break your heart." And then, almost too soft for her to hear, he said, "And that might kill me as surely as the Templars."
He resumed their sojourn and she followed. They were both quiet as they descended the steps into Darktown. She didn't know how to feel. Yes, she found him attractive. And he certainly seemed to find her attractive, but he was conflicted. Then again what did she really know about him? Did he leave someone behind when he fled Fereldan? Maybe he was mourning a lost love. Well, she would give him any space he needed but she wasn't going let him go. If nothing else, she really needed a friend, especially a mage friend. Someone she could talk to about magic, who understood how hard it was to be a mage.
As they entered Darktown, she reached out with her senses. She and Anders had gone only a few feet from the stairs when they started being followed. She sensed desperation and hatred. Only two followers, but there could be more nearby. This didn't stop the mages from continuing towards the clinic. Anders didn't appear to notice their shadows but he could be pretending not to, just like her.
He looked sheepishly at her while they walked. "I'm sorry."
Kattrin smiled at him. "It's okay. I would still like to be your friend, if that's alright with you."
Anders stopped to look at her intently. He gave a heavy sigh. "Well, I already offered to help you learn spirit healing."
Kattrin shook her head at him. "I don't want you to be uncomfortable. Just be honest with me. If you want me to go, then I'll go."
He gave her an agonized look. "I'm not asking you to go. I would like to be your friend. I just can't give you more."
Suddenly, Anders turned, reaching for his staff. So he was just playing along. She followed his lead, reaching for her staff and turning to face whoever was trailing them. She saw the two men she had sensed by the stairs. They both bore the look of the Kirkwall downtrodden with their worn clothing hanging off their underfed bodies. One held a cudgel and the other a knife. Knife owner smiled, showing all of three teeth.
"You don' look like refugees ta me. Gimme yur coin an' I won' hurt'cha."
Kattrin was still feeling the effects of liquid courage and impaired judgment. "I certainly hope that you're not Coterie. Because, then I can kill you and get a nice reward for protecting their territory."
The man with the cudgel looked to the man with the knife. "Hector, I can't be havin' the Coterie afta me. You know they'll be afta me family first."
"If we kill'em, the Coterie won't know."
"But they has spies everywhere. I ain't gonna risk it." Showing surprisingly good manners, Cudgel bowed to Kattrin and Anders, retreating as he did so. "I'm sorry, messeres. Uh… good even' to ya." And with that he turned and fled, leaving his knife-wielding companion behind.
Anders turned to him. "So, what's it to be, friend? Do we dance, or were you leaving?"
The lone thug narrowed his eyes and secured his footing. Kattrin started pulling mana from the Fade, readying an ice spell. He started to back away before he quickly threw his knife in her direction. It seared through her gut causing her gathered mana to bleed back into the Fade. Distantly, she heard the clatter of her staff hitting the ground. She stumbled backwards and sat down hard. The pain of it stole her breath away. She saw a flash of blue light and heard a strangled scream, but both the light and sound were far away. She looked down at the knife handle in her middle, the blood running to both sides of her belly, making her wound look like a slash.
She saw Anders kneel over her, frowning, and tried to smile at him. He looked so worried. He placed one hand under her knees and the other behind her back. But as he began lifting her, agony suffused her body and everything went black.