CHAPTER 11: GLIMPSES OF...

"What about this." I said holding out a shirt in Fenris' direction. I tilted my head trying to picture the article of clothing on him. It looked good in my mind. He just stood there boredly not really paying attention to what was going on. He had better things to do with his time.

Like sitting alone in his mansion drinking his life away. Redecorating the walls and floors with broken glass from said wine bottles which I would have to clean up later. Staring at his feet without moving for several hours. Swing that giant sword of his around and destroy what little furniture was left.

Yeah, he had so much better to do.

He slowly walked away from the stall.

The vender rolled his eyes huffing loudly as he took the shirt back. I shrugged sheepishly at him, I guess we could come back later.

"Damned bleeding heart woman, teach that knife ear of yours to listen." That stopped Fenris dead in his tracks. I could see the fury rolling off of him in waves as he turned his head to the side. His lip raised up in a silent snarl as his eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. He hadn't said that word that would set off Fenris, but it was unnecessarily applied.

"Oh shit..." I muttered watching Fenris turn back toward the stall owner. I looked quickly between the two and found them in a staring match. The stupid vendor didn't look at all phased by my obviously pissed off friend. "Fenris, don't." I stepped between the two, not smart not smart. What part of 'not smart' do I not get?

Fenris stopped just before he got to me, oh did he look miffed. His jaw was clenched tightly together as his upper lip twitched.

"Not now Fenris, please." I said as I threw a glance at the guard beginning to head in our direction. The clothing merchant decided to make another smart ass remark, and I can't be sure if I can keep Fenris from pushing me out of the way and killing the man.

I tried to put my hands on his shoulders and push him back, but I kept retracting my hands each time I got close. That might just make things worse.

"Girl you're about to be one knife ear poorer."

"Would you shut up! He isn't my slave or my servant, he's my friend." I'm really getting about ready myself to knock some sense into this guy. Just because he's an elf and following me around doesn't make him my slave and me his master or any combination their of. I couldn't ever command someone around like that, hell I can't even take my own orders half the time.

The man gave a snort and a wave of his hand.

Fenris made to reach for his sword, I had to finally grab his wrist and pull it away before he did something stupid. Like get us arrested. Maybe at least Aveline would let us go with a warning... so long as the vender was in one piece.

"Let's just go." I took a glace back at the guard, he himself was preparing to reach for his own weapon. Fenris growled and I released his wrist. The man wouldn't let us go though. He barked out something along the lines of 'you aren't getting off that easily'. I saw a hand grab onto Fenris' shoulder and try to pull him around.

Fenris began to glow brightly beside me, but it was my fist that reached out and knocked the man square in the jaw. The glow from my elven friend ceased.

"Don't you ever touch him again!" I threw an arm out to keep Fenris back, but it was unnecessary. I heard him laugh lightly as the other man shook his head. Now I don't normally go picking on people and beating them up, but this guy's asking for it.

He takes another step toward us, he's getting it. And the guy walked forward ready to continue his little tantrum. The guard behind him stopped short of putting an end to our little tussle.

"Little whore!" What the hell did he just call me? Oh no I know he didn't just do that.

"What can't a girl wear a tank top without being a whore?" I shrugged. Sure it's not exactly the attire people here might be used to. But damn it, it's hotter than hell out today. I'll be damned if I'm going to be roasting in one of those dresses, or even some kind of armor. You can see skin sure, but nothing compared to a certain pirate.

Heck, Fenris liked the view. I even caught him staring a few times earlier.

The man thew a punch that looked like it was intended for my head, but was traveling toward my shoulder, I ducked to the side pushing his hand away with the back of my forearm.

Asshole, Lesson one: Don't pick a fight with a chick that can kick your ass.

Lesson two: Mess with that chicks friend, be ready to meet the ground. First class.

Fenris sat beside me on the bench shaking with silent laughter, but he tried not to look like that's what he was doing. He looked like he was shaking with rage with that frown, but it was hard to hide the humor in his eyes.

Aveline paced in front of us absolutely seething. "I swear, out of all things to happen. You couldn't have just walked away." She ranted. "Of all the stupid things Hawke's friends have done lately, you have to start it up again."

"Thank you." Fenris whispered barely loud enough to hear over Aveline's continued yelling, and clanking armor.

"Hey, no one messes with my guy." I nudged his shoulder when he went quiet. We leaned close whispering under our breaths about nothing just trying to ignore the guard captain. His eyes went down whether it was intentional or not they stayed there. "Hey if you ever want to stop drooling, look up a little higher."

He cleared his throat loudly looking away to see where Aveline had began pacing, and continuing her rant. I giggled quietly to myself. He's to much fun to tease. "Where did you learn to fight?"

"Back home." I looked to the ground picking at my nails. "There was a kid at my school that got beat up all the time, when it got out my dad wanted me to learn to protect myself. I've never really had to use it before..." Before coming to this world.

"Are the two of you quite finished? Do you not understand the gravity of the situation, how much trouble you're causing for me?"

Whoops, oh yeah forgot where we were. We looked to each other then to the guard captain.

"He started it..." I mumbled, but she wouldn't have it. I'm a woman, and should act and dress like one apparently.

"Fenris, you can leave..." Aveline rubbed a handed against her temple as we both stood to leave. "Not you, sit down and wait for Hawke." Damn-it.

I poked my lip out flopping onto the bench crossing my arms. Fenris gave a look over his shoulder that just screamed 'haha you're in trouble'. Well in his case probably not exactly that. I stuck my tongue out at him childishly as he closed the door. Traitor.

Aveline fell into her chair heavily shaking her head and began working on her paperwork. Several grueling minutes later Garrett came into the room, his head swept around looking for something. When his eyes landed on me they narrowed, and I swear his scowl vanished under that beard. Someone was past due for a shave...

Aveline stopped her work when he entered, and began explaining just how much trouble I had caused. Not that the merchant had done anything wrong, oh no he could never have done anything. Hello, I am still sitting right here...

Do they not have the concept of 'innocent until proven guilty'?

Garrett tapped a finger on his arm, I can just see a vein begin throbbing by his temple. Few more seconds and it might just bust at this rate.

"Blah blah blah, can I go now?" I stood up quickly from the bench.

Garrett turned giving me that kind of look. He was mad that all of this now fell on him. "Sit, and be quiet." He returned to being yelled at by the red head. I threw my head back moaning loudly earning another look from both of them.

I mumbled out. "Fine..."

I admit I should never have hit the guy as hard as I had. I think I may have broken his nose with that last punch. But god did he deserve it. Maybe it knocked him down a couple notches. If he ever insulted another woman or elf, it'd be to soon.

The walk back to the Amell Estate was silent. The vein in Garrett's head was still pounding away, and it wouldn't take much more to just cause him to lose it.

"Ah Ser Hawke, a message just came in for you. It looked pretty important." Bodahn pointed off toward the table in the back of the main room. Garrett pushed me toward a chair with strict instructions to stay put, and he then strode over quickly, picked up the letter and began reading.

From my seat I could see his eyes flick over the paper, and there went that vein. He slammed the letter to the table, picked up his staff and bellowed across the house for Feng. I could hear the big dogs claws scratching as he scrambled to get up from where ever he was upstairs. It sounded like a horse was running through the house as the war hound came charging through to his master.

Feng jumped down the entire stair case, and slid across the floor to a stop at Garrett's feet. He panted heavily looking up to the man waiting for an order.

"Stay here, I have enough to deal with today..." Garrett said through clenched teeth. His entire face was red with anger.

"I'll be on my best behavior, scouts honor." He rolled his eyes and turned around waving for Feng to follow him.

I slumped into the chair when I heard the door slam closed. Bodahn gave a little laugh trying not to seem like he had been paying attention. Sandal looked up from his own seat over his fathers shoulder staring at where Garrett had been.

He blinked like he didn't quite understand what was going on.

The father and son returned to what they were doing soon after, and left me to pout in my chair. Well I wasn't pouting per-say. I'm not a child I don't have to do what he says. But at the same time I know that I'm an adult and that I'd just cause problems for the poor guy.

I just sat there watching Sandal making runes. It was kind of interesting how it was done. I have no idea what he was doing, but he seemed to know exactly what was going on. His father helped him by placing the finished runes carefully in a box, wrapping them up tightly.

"I'm going to see Varric." I called walking slowly through the main room. Bodahn waved his hand not taking his eyes off of what he was doing, and told me to have fun.

I took off before he had a chance to realize what was going on. I'm sure Garrett will be gone long enough that he even won't notice. Maybe it'll be something that will make him go straight to bed and fall asleep.

The trip to the Hanged Man had become so integrated into my mind that I didn't even have to think about where I was going. Scary. I'm not sure if that's a good thing, or if it's just plain sad.

The door opened easily as always, and whoa the smell had sadly become familiar.

"So, then the Darkspawn gets around all of us, and heads straight for our only unarmed companion. So what does she do," I see Varric on the other end of the tavern talking, and slam his fist into his other hand. "she kicks the blasted thing. Haha it fell on it's back, didn't know what to do."

"What are you talking about?" I asked pushing my way through the crowd of people that had gathered around him.

Varric gave another laugh and shrugged his shoulders. "Just recounting your heroic defeat of a Darkspawn." Oh right those things. Pleh. I shuttered at just the mere thought.

"I can't believe I touched that thing." The group of men all gave weird noises and backed away. Varric only laughed as the crowd dispersed back all around the tavern, and began to do as they had came to.

"Nor can I, Kitten. So, what brings you here?"

We sat down at the table and began talking. "Just came to see my favorite dwarf of all time."

He placed his hand over his heart giving a goofy grin. "Keep quiet, else Bianca might think I'm running around on her." I covered my mouth and snorted loudly. "No seriously."

"Alright, Varric." He is such a silly guy. "So what's on the agenda today?"

Varric suddenly snapped his fingers and motioned for me to come closer. We leaned forward and he began to whisper. "So, I looked into your situation. I didn't find anything that really helped. It's unheard of."

"But I did hear about this noble. He claims to have some 'magical sight seeing object' or something of the sort."

"Like a crystal ball or something." Varric nodded his head slowly, but was unsure of what the object actually was. It could have been anything. He didn't know where the man had came to acquire the thing, but apparently it was around the same time I'd came here. "You think it could take me back home?"

Varric shifted around in his chair taking a deep breath. His eyes flicked behind me for a minute. "I wouldn't get your hopes up, Kitten. It might not even be real, and if it does exist it could only give us the location of something else entirely." I slouched in my seat and propped my head on my hands.

"If this noble has it, how do I get to it?" Varric's eyes returned to me as he tapped his fingers on the table.

"You have a few options, but out right breaking into his chateau is out. How do you feel about parties?" I tilted my head and raised an eyebrow at him. What in the world did he have in mind.