Well this is...awkward.
Merrill was Dalish at heart, and even after years in Kirkwall, she still found the number of people and cramped streets somewhat disturbing, with people all too easily walking into her space without even being aware they were doing it.
So when put on a little stool and having some grey-haired human woman poke and push at her with a measuring rope and needles, Merrill found herself clenching her fists and curling her toes to keep herself from taking a step away. She's just doing her job, her near and personal job...stop poking my leg, by Mythal, that tickles!
The silent matron made no move to imply she'd heard Merrill's mental call though, the woman frowning as she moved to stand in front of Merrill, tugging at the cloth at the elf's hip. The woman was short and broad for her kind, and with Merrill on a stool, it was a strange feeling for her to be looking down on a human. Heh, I'm big. Merrill shook her head with a grin, triggering a deepening of the human's frown. Okay, maybe no more wine...?
Merrill wasn't sure where Garrett had found the woman, or how he'd convinced her to work on an elf's dress, but the woman had so far said barely a word, yet didn't seem overly hostile either. Much to Merrill's relief, considering the woman's many needles stuck to the neckline of her simple dress, needles she seemed to love sticking into the fine green silk she'd draped over the elf after some debating between Aveline and Isabela.
At first, Merrill had thought the silk was the dress...she'd been mistaken on that, as her now sore feet could testify to as she'd been forced to stand rigidly still for at least half an hour.
She wasn't much enjoying it by now. It was nice to be pretty and all, the gods knew there were Dalish who considered what god's Vallaslin to put on their bodies solely for the sake of what looked best, but Merrill hadn't considered how much work humans apparently liked to put into something as simple as a piece of cloth. They have too much time on their hands, I think...maybe not Garrett but, well, everyone else...
Merrill was, and thankful for that, not alone with the old human.
Isabela and Aveline was also in the room, a round chamber in Garrett's home where one couldn't find the walls for all the open wardrobes lining it. Wonder if it's Leandra's? I hope she doesn't mind us being here... Merrill grimaced, she couldn't help but notice a certain...ambivalence towards herself from the human woman since their last meal. She wasn't sure where it came from, or why, but Merrill didn't much care for it. I can be of the Dalish and of my clan and be his friend at the same time, don't see why she cares...
Her two friends were to the side by a table covered in a few choice cheeses, fruits and wine. Now and again they were glancing to Merrill as they spoke, one with a frown, the other with a grin. At least they're talking to each other and not shouting, or insulting one another either! Maybe they can be friends? Merrill liked that thought. Never had a group of girlfriends like the other Dalish did...this could be my group!
"So...are we done yet?" Merrill couldn't help but voice the question, eager to join her friends at the table for some cheese and maybe a tiny glass of wine more. "I'd like to-ouch!" The pinprick in her hip made Merrill pull back, nearly falling off the stool before the old woman caught her with an arm strong enough to be taken for Garrett's.
"Don't move around." Was all the woman said though, eyes on Merrill's hip, as if it was something elusive she couldn't quite figure out...and then put another needle into the cloth, pulling it up slightly along that side. "We're done when we're done."
"You heard the lady." Isabela snickered, raising a glass to Merrill with a grin. "No rushing the dress, or it won't be any good...you don't want to disappoint Garrett, now do you?"
Well...no. Merrill caught herself pouting, then instead shot the pirate a glower. "You're not being nice, you promised to stop that."
"Sorry, sorry..." Isabela didn't look sorry.
Aveline joined Merrill in glowering at the pirate, but for a different reason. "Pretty or not, I don't think having an open back for her is appropriate for a occasion like this." The captain groaned, rubbing her temples. "Maker, my mother would be thrilled to hear me speak like this for once...anyway, I'm just saying that given who Merrill is, it might send the wrong signals?"
Wrong signals? Before Merrill could ask, Isabela replied with a roll of her eyes. "Oh come now!" She took a sip from her glass. "Merrill would look great in that! Think of her tattoos...Merrill, how far down your back do they go?"
"Err...down to the small of my back..." And down my legs, and a little across the collar bones...best not mention that. Merrill was all too thankful for her high neckline, around someone like Isabela, or even most humans, it was easy for an elven woman to get self-conscious.
"See?!" Isabela grinned at Aveline, leaning on the table of snacks as she took another sip of her glass. "Got to show that off! People will love it!" Love...my back? I guess it would be nice telling people of how Vallaslin are done, might make them see Dalish in the light of a culture, rather than savages. Merrill smiled uncertainly at the thought. She'd honestly been feeling some trepidation at the idea of going to the party she'd invited herself to, but something in the reluctance in Garrett's face had made her want to come along, to make things a little nicer. Plus, there was always the great curiosity in her to explore and learn...how many Dalish could claim to have been at a gathering of human nobles!? "Don't be a spoilsport."
"I'm not being a spoilsport, I'm simply saying that it might not..." Aveline, noticing Isabela's cocked head and pointed look, rolled her eyes. "...fine, bare back it is...but no more!"
Don't I get a say in this? Merrill held her tongue though, figuring Isabela's idea to be good, if nothing else but to keep her cool, Kirkwall was ridiculously warm this spring. Isabela wasn't done though. "Now, what about jewellery?" Merrill's eyes widened, she'd seen the stuff humans sometimes wore, it was ridiculously expensive, had no practical application, seemed all too fragile...and sometimes looked utterly gorgeous. "I'm thinking something big and golden."
"Of course you do...you're about as subtle as a brick to the face." Aveline snorted, ready to speak on when Isabela interrupted.
"You would know, given all those riots. Or did that happen before? You know, considering your face?"
"Why you-!"
"I don't think I can afford jewellery." Merrill blurted out, more to stop the ensuing argument than out of any real concern. "Maybe something of wood? I could carve something...maybe...?" She blushed as Aveline and Isabela shot her an incredulous look, even the quiet seamstress shooting her an arched eyebrow.
"I think...not." Aveline's polite smile was the 'not in a million years' kind of smile, making Merrill flush further. "So I must agree with Isabela..." The captain of the guard shot the Rivaini a sharp look. "But silver and small...she's not you, woman."
"Hmmm..." Isabela wasn't looking back though, her eyes were on Merrill, looking the elf over like a cow on the market, arms crossed over her chest and biting her bottom lip. "...maybe, how about small and gold?"
"That would work."
"So...I don't get a say in this?" Merrill asked, frowning in irritation by now. Garrett would listen to my opinion, he would respect it, even...
"Kitten, you suggested making something out of wood." Isabela replied with a smile that bordered on the condescending, making Merrill bristle further. "And don't worry about the cost, Garrett pays for the dress, so I'm sure he expects other costs as well...damn, but isn't he generous to you?" The pirate finished the question with a wink, turning Merrill's bristle into an angry blush as the seamstress still circling Merrill threw her a curious glance.
"Yeah, too generous if you ask me..." Aveline muttered, making Merrill blink in surprise, even Isabela looked at the woman with shock, making the Captain roll her eyes. "Don't you guys realise how this will look? I'm sure as hell that Garrett does, yet he goes through with it anyway...sometimes I just don't understand that man." Huh?
"Well yes, I get how it'll look." Aveline rolled her eyes at Isabela's reply, yet the pirate continued. "But who cares about what those old nobles think, eh?"
"Garrett cares."
"E-excuse me? What are they caring about?" Merrill couldn't help but ask, grimacing as she realised how foolish she must sound for not realising whatever it was the humans found so obvious. Their world is still so foreign at times...
Isabela and Aveline exchanged a glance. Uh oh. It was the auburn woman who replied in the end, the pirate looking a little uncomfortable as Aveline spoke. "You do realise how you, an elven woman, coming along with Garrett, a human noble, will look, right...?"
"Errr...like he's bringing a elf?" Merrill blinked. "I realise it might look a little strange with an elven guest, but surely once we speak to people they'll understand what-"
"They'll assume you're his mistress." Aveline snapped.
Merrill went rigid, the blood draining from her face. "Th-they wouldn't...?"
"Oh they would, it's not like you'd be the first elven 'friend' or 'companion' to come with a noble in Kirkwall." Aveline grimaced. "I suppose Garrett thinks like you, that you'd be able to explain...doubt it'll be that easy though, people are quick to jump to assumptions."
Isabela was shrugging though. "Still, as I said, who cares? Not like them thinking he does what half the other nobles do is some big deal."
Aveline shook her head, eyes flashing with irritation. "I'm sure the Reinharts will care, if you recall our previous conversation..."
The way she nodded at Merrill, as if the elf wouldn't pick up on the 'subtle' hint, made the Dalish frown. A talk about me when I wasn't around? Or about me and Garrett? Can people stop assuming things!? "What previous conversation? And what about the Reinharts?"
Again, Isabela and Aveline exchanged a glance.
Yet this time it was the pirate who answered, the woman shrugging, trying to look casual but failing. "Well...it's no secret the Reinharts', a strong noble family, is trying to marry into the growing power of the Hawkes' with their daughter."
What? Merrill stared at the pirate. I...he's said nothing about that...
Aveline shook her head, giving Merrill a sympathetic look before turning to face Isabela. "Maybe so, but you weren't there, it didn't look all that promising to me, Garrett's not the most charming of men and Cecei...well I've heard some rumours about her."
He's getting married? Garrett? I'm not sure...maybe that would make him happy? Though arranged sounds...wrong...yes...wrong...wrong and stupid.
"Ohhh...what rumours?! Dish, dish, girl." Isabela grinned.
"Let's just say there's a reason she's not often in public and leave it at that...and yes, I do mean leave it like that, I'm not one for gossip." Aveline snorted, then turned back to Merrill with a hesitant smile. "You okay? You look...off."
Merrill blinked. "Me? Yes, I'm fine, I was just...err...thinking about the dress."
Isabela rolled her eyes at the reply, but Aveline cocked her head to the side and frowned, looking the dress over as the seamstress paused, apparently ready to heed some command or suggestion. "What about it? It looks fine to me." The seamstress snorted. "Yes, yes, you're going to do loads of modifications to it, I know...anyway, Merrill, what do you suggest?"
Merrill, suddenly scrambling for something to say, now that she was actually asked, shifted where she stood, feeling the silk swish back and forth around her. "Err...well...it's beautiful but kind of hard to move in...isn't it?" Behind her, the seamstress let lose a small chuckle. "Maybe if we cut it open along one or two sides like with my tabard, at least along the legs, it would be easier to move in?" The chuckle died.
Isabela took a step forward, then another, a big grin on her face. "Oh yes! Let's-"
"No." Aveline snapped, glaring at Isabela, then Merrill, daring them to contradict her.
Isabela actually shirked back at that, nodding in agreement, yet Merrill found herself raising her chin. "Why not? It would be easier to walk in and cooler in this heat...?"
"Why not?" Aveline echoed, giving Merrill an incredulous look. "You want exposed legs? I thought you wanted people not to think you as Garrett's mistress?"
Oh. Merrill flushed, realising what the Guard-Captain was referring to. I forgot, bare legs in human society is kind of rare and...I've been around Isabela too much. "Well...no...?" Bet it would look nice though, bet that Cecei wouldn't... Merrill shook her head, frowning in irritation.
"Good, that's that then." Aveline sighed, then looked Merrill over. "You sure you're okay though? You look a little...flushed?"
"I'm fine, thank you." Merrill offered a pale smile, not quite sure why she felt so...upset.
Isabela, smiling, moved towards the table of treats, grabbing a bottle of wine and beginning to pour the contents into a glass. "Some more wine, Merrill?"
"Creators, yes!"
8
8
8
"You're going to love her dress."
"I'm sure it'll look nice." Garrett replied, not about to be baited by Isabela into some discussion about him and Merrill. It was a non-issue where Garrett knew any denial would just further convince Isabela of her notions. Me and an elf...ridiculous. Besides, I have a duty to the family, although I'm sure I could get away with it with some forward planning...not that that's necessary, since I have no plans in that direction, but still. "Now, could you please focus? We're here."
They were in the city's main port. The hustle and bustle of the city was at its greatest there, with pickpockets, sailors and dockworkers all pressing against one another as they struggled to move through the cramped streets. From numerous windows facing the street, prostitutes and merchants alike called out to sell their services, while many a side-passage lead to immense warehouses, many Garrett knew to be Reinhart's property, the golden goose of the noble. Maker, I hope the man won't take me bringing Merrill the wrong way...maybe I can soften the blow with some business-deal? I do want the farmlands he's got...not that there's any real insult intended with bringing Merrill, but I should consider the fallout none the less. Maybe they'll tell Cecei not to court me any more right away? Garrett felt a twinge of relief at the thought.
Fortunately for them, Garrett had anticipated the bustle of the port midday, and as such brought plenty of muscle. Maric, now recovered from his poor stomach, stood on the man's left, all muscle and fur. And if the dog wasn't intimidating enough, Garrett had ten men in full armour and drawn swords in a circle around him, Maric and Isabela, forming a private island for them in the centre to talk in. Best be on the safe side with Petrice about...hopefully the Cats are watching us too.
"Fine, fine, I'll focus..." Isabela snickered. "Still, I think you'll-"
"Isabela." Garrett growled, shooting the pirate a glare, then nodded out towards the harbour. "Look."
The pirate obeyed...and gasped. "It's beautiful..."
It was a beautiful sight, actually, the spring sun was scorching, but it also made the water of the harbour glitter like emeralds. It made the buildings near the harbour shine white and clean, even the seagulls looked more majestic than they should as they soared over a ship slowly moving out of port.
Garrett guessed Isabela's focus lay on the ship in the harbour though, or more specifically, the lean two-master with the Hawke heraldry fluttering high on its pennons. Don't know much about boats, but my expert told me it's a fine ship...guess Isabela agrees. "You like it?"
"I...wow...it's amazing...what speed is it capable of?" Isabela was nearly drooling, making Garrett chuckle.
"I don't rightly know, but you may soon find out." Isabela blinked, giving Garrett a confused look. "I'd like to hire you as Captain, Isabela." Again, the pirate blinked, seemingly lost for words, making Garrett shuffle where he stood. "I'm starting up my own shipping company, this ship would be carrying luxury items, and quickly, is my hope. You and I...we might not always see eye to eye, but I've asked around and there's no denying that pirate Isabela is known as a great captain."
"I...I..." Isabela stared at Garrett, then to the ship, then back to him, then back to the ship.
Garrett, confused, cocked his head to the side. She looks...lost? Isabela, lost?! "I will of course not demand an answer right now, but if you'd like to think it over and maybe-"
"No."
Garrett blinked, staring at the pirate in surprise. "No...?"
Isabela was looking at the ship, a look of anguish passing by her face for a fraction of a moment before she blinked it away. "I...not that I don't appreciate the gesture, I do...I...wow, I really do, but no." She looked to Garrett, offering a smile struggling to look wry. "I'm a pirate, not a merchant captain, I love my freedom, not...routes."
Garrett, still stunned that Isabela would turn down an offer for a ship she'd looked so hungrily at just a moment ago, shook his head. "But it's...you do realise how much a captain is paid, no? A few years of work, actually being at sea, rather than in a tavern, and you could afford your own ship. I know you're not patient, but surely it's a massive step on the way to what you want, while preparing for it as well...?"
"Yeah...not feeling it, sorry." Isabela replied, the wry smile still looking somewhat forced.
Garrett stared at her for a long while, watching the woman's smile falter as she shuffled under his gaze...and then shook his head. "Is something wrong? I was sure you'd jump at this opportunity...why stay in Kirkwall with no opportunity to get your ship, instead of this...?"
"Maybe I'm getting used to land...?" Isabela tried, struggling to smile.
"Isabela..." Behind him, a shout made Garrett lose his line of thoughts. "...I, this is ridiculous. Why wouldn't you want to be sailing when I'm offering what's nearly a free ship with a minimal of obligations? Everything I know about you tells me you'd be jumping at this opportunity yet.." Again, the shout brought him to a stop. "...yet..." A louder shout. "Oh for bloody..." Turning, Garrett looked to the source of the shouts, finding the entrance to the Qunari compound far in the distance...and all too visible with the sudden numbers of Qunari on the walls above the gate and the throng of a crowd assembled outside, making all other people pull away. "Damn, again? Isabela, we'll have to talk about this later, it seems I have a fire to put out..."
"Sure, sure, but pardon me for not wanting to participate in this...I've got enough trouble as it is." Isabela replied, and Garrett felt her step out of his ring of guards and into the crowd, slipping away like only she was capable of.
Sure, you have a lot of trouble...you don't know what trouble is. Garrett shook his head and began to move towards the crowd, the men around him stiffening in worry as they prepared to protect their charge. "Maric, look fearsome." The dog growled back, teeth suddenly bared and fur along his back on end. "Perfect."
As they came closer, it became easier to move forward as anyone not in the throng threateningly facing the gates of the Qunari compound slipped away.
Finally, with a good twelve feet separating Garrett and his entourage from the crowd, he came to a stop, listening to the shouts escaping them as they shook their fists at the Qunari atop the battlements above.
"Qunari, go home!"
"Stop indoctrinating our children!"
"What are you doing to our elves!?"
"What are you hiding!?"
"The Qun is filth!"
"Monsters! Monsters the lot of you!"
On the compound walls, the line of Qunari warriors looked down, unfazed.
Garrett's gaze moved past the group of largely dirt-poor people that made up the crowd, though with some alarm he found several that had to come at least from the middle-class, and fixed his eyes on the one looking all prim and proper in the sea of people. "Petrice, I didn't know the Chantry now supported public disorder? Should I send the guard to the church, perhaps?"
A few in the crowd shot the noble surprised and worried glances, yet all continued with their shouting.
Petrice slipped out of the crowd easily though, her movement confident as a snake sneaking up on its prey as she gazed up at Garrett. "The Chantry? You mistake me, Hawke, I'm simply here as a concerned citizen."
"Your vestments seem to imply otherwise." Garrett scoffed back, gesturing at the robes of the Chantry the woman so brazenly wore. "Wearing that, you represent the Chantry itself...I hope the Grand Cleric is aware of this?"
"Is it not every priestess' duty to care for the souls of those burning with the light of the Maker?" Petrice replied, smile cold. "As for the Grand Cleric...I wouldn't trouble her, if were I you, she's very sick..." The priestess took a step closer, smile turning yet colder. "...she'll soon be with the Maker, and then...well someone will have to take her place, someone with a lot of support with the local priestesses, as well as the flock..."
"Namely you." Garrett grunted, not in the least surprised. "The Maker sure seems to have a sense of humour, the Grand Cleric is old, but she wasn't so sick until just a few years ago...about the same time you arrived, no?" Subtle as wall, only reason no one stops you is because they either fear you or don't care...too much of the later in this city. "Fortune smiles on you, it seems."
Petrice ignored the jab, instead she looked to the men surrounding Garrett, looking mildly surprised. "Guards, Hawke? I thought you were famous for just walking around with your mutt?"
Maric's growl was loud enough to make Petrice freeze for a moment, the people of the crowd nearest her backing away in fright even as they struggled to maintain their chanting, their attention divided. Garrett's tone was polite though. "Well things happen, one must be prepared."
"Yes..." Petrice shook herself out of the fright Maric had induced, smiling. "...things happen." She took a step closer, then another one, hands pushing aside the two nearest guards so she had a clearer path to Garrett. "But they don't have to, do they? Not when you have the Maker on your side."
Garrett arched an eyebrow, but said nothing. Oh this will no doubt be amusing.
Emboldened by his lack of reply, Petrice took another step closer, then froze as Maric let lose another low growl. Her smile remained though, clever and confident. "It's no secret that you oppose the power the templars have amassed, that you want them back to their proper place. Together, we could put Meredith in her place. With a strong Grand Cleric at the head of the Chantry, as well as a strong leader of the secular, the templars could well be brought to order..."
Garrett chuckled. "Ah, so this alliance would make you the Grand Cleric and put the templars under your control...let me guess, in exchange for this privilege, I'm supposed to aid you removing the Qunari?" He shook his head. "That's nonsense, we're not allies, nor friends, and your deal is a foolish game of wit a child could see through." Petrice's smile curdled as Garrett raised his voice. "I have no interest in seeing you as Grand Cleric, nor in command of the largest military in Kirkwall, or to the start of a war with arguably the strongest military force in Thedas." A few heads in the crowd turned.
That got their attention.
"I'm surprised anyone would want to pick a fight with a Qunari, never mind their entire military. Do you think their size intimidating? Just wait until they hurl a javelin as tall as yourself at you, or do you think those spears of theirs are just for show? I've seen them in use, accurate and deadly to anyone not behind a shield."
Petrice, glancing back, growled something under her breath before replying with an equally strong voice. "Their strength has never been in question, it's their faith, and their behaviour that should be investegated. The light of the Maker shines not on them, nor on their growing following, is this not a great danger?"
"I wouldn't start speaking of behaviour, if I were you. The Qunari have done precisely nothing since they've entered this city... the same cannot be said for those who would try to antagonise them. Something they might not react to, but I will...and I'm not known for my kindness." Garrett held Petrice's gaze as he felt the crowd behind her shift in worry. "As to whatever light shines on them or not...the greatest sinner at the time of Andraste was her own husband, a worshipper of the Maker, so look to your own heart before judging others." Petrice opened her mouth, ready to snap something back, but Garrett raised his voice further, looking to the crowd with narrowed eyes. "And there's many kinds of lights in the world! That of the law! That of the Qunari! My own!" He looked the crowd over, holding each gaze in turn. "And believe me when I tell you this; you do not want my light on you...this is an unlawful assembly, this is an assembly personally insulting me and my work...not to mention them..." He pointed up at the Qunari at the battlements, several now holding javelins in their hands. "...remove yourselves."
Some at the back of the crowd began to slip away, the others looking uncertain, gazes darting between Garrett and the giants on the battlements. Again, Petrice tried to speak up...and then gasped as Garrett took a quick step forward, his bulk making her take a step back and trip on her robe, nearly making her fall over before she caught herself with one hand, he kept his eyes on the crowd though, ignoring her.
His voice snapped like a whip. "Now."
A mutter, then a grumble...and the crowd began to disperse, heads turning to glance at Garrett and the Qunari with both fear and anger as they hurried off.
"You will pay for this, Hawke..." Petrice grumbled, straightening, grimacing as she clenched a hand scrapped raw. Throwing the Qunari a glare, then spitting at Garrett's feet, she turned to leave. "...oh you'll pay...this isn't the last you've seen of me."
Watching the priestess leave with a shake of his head, Garrett couldn't stop his own mutter. "People keep saying that...never actually seem to make me pay though." Behind him, one of his guards chuckled.
Garrett's own chuckle died in his throat though, his gaze drawn up to the battlements.
The Arishok was now atop the wall, looking down at him.
Forcing himself not to swallow under the scrutiny of the hard eyes of the Qunari, Garrett offered a nod. The Arishok nodded back, then turned his head, looking to where the crowd had left.
The Arishok's face was unreadable, yet his eyes...something in them made Garrett shiver.
8
8
8
Thanks to Abydos Jackson for never sleeping on the job