This is my personal favourite so far. Just because I love the song.
Zero To Hero (Hercules) – Garrett Hawke
Varric drained his tankard, and set it back on the table. His eyes flickered to the enthralled crowd his story had gathered, then to the small group of misfits standing by the door of the Hanged Man.
"So… What's the Champion doing now? Now that he's defeated the Qunari?" asked a particularly enraptured man with a dirty face.
A grin spread across Varric's face as he stood up. "From that day forth, our boy Hawke could do no wrong." He waved to the barman. "He was so hot," he continued, smirking, "Steam looked cool."
And he threw a coin purse to Corff before leaping to join the others, just as Hawke himself appeared at the door. As the rag-tag crew of friends went outside into the Lowtown sunshine, Varric started to sing.
"Bless my soul! Hawke was on a roll!"
Isabela joined in, shaking her hips. "Person of the week in each Kirkwall opinion poll!"
"What a pro!" swooned Merrill, before Varric took over again.
"Hawke could stop a show - point him at a monster and you're talking SRO! He was a no one –"
Anders and Merrill turned their heads from side to side as they harmonised. "A zero, zero."
Varric motioned wildly at Hawke, bellowing – "Now he's a honcho, he's a hero!"
That was when Aveline rounded the corner, pointing straight at Hawke and saying to her guard – "Here was a kid with his act down pat! From zero to hero, in no time flat!"
"Zero to hero!" joined in the guards.
"Just like that!" smirked Varric, with a click of his fingers.
They had made their way to Hightown by now, and people were out in force to see the new Champion. Outside the Blooming Rose, a lithe Elven face was grinning widely at the affectionate female attention Hawke was being engulfed by.
"When he smiled," Jethann sang across the crowd, "The girls went wild with –"
He was cut off with a series of melodic "Ooooooh, ahhhhh!" noises from the noble women as Hawke smiled roguishly.
Isabela tapped his arm, and pointed to one of the stalls – it was full of ornaments and earthenware, adorned with Hawke's face and the new Hawke crest. "And they slapped his face," he explained, "On ev'ry vase –"
"On ev'ry vase," cut in Anders, his clipped tones belying the grin on his face.
Fenris appeared at that moment, holding Hawke's coin purse in front of his face – it must have been pickpocketed among the crowd. Hawke grabbed it quickly, as Fenris joined in. "From hunting fees and royalties, our Hawke had cash to burn - now nouveau riche and famous –"
Varric pointed to a group of Orlesian nobles in their finery – "He could tell you what the nobles earn!"
"Say amen!" cried a group of Chanters outside the Chantry, as the group passed, Hawke smiling widely. "There he goes again!"
"Sweet and undefeated," cried Aveline, punching Hawke's shoulder, "And an awesome 10 for 10!"
"Folks lined up just to watch him flex," said Fenris, with a hint of distaste as Hawke threw back his shoulders.
Isabela jumped onto Hawke's back, her hands on his chest. "And this perfect package," she cried to the crowd of girls, "packed a pair of pretty pecs!"
The crowd suddenly piped up, singing in chorus – "Hawkie, he comes, he sees, he conquers - honey, the crowds were going bonkers! He showed the moxie, brains, and spunk! From zero to hero –"
"A major hunk!" shouted Isabela, from her perch on Hawke's shoulders.
"Zero to hero!"
"And who'da thunk?" asked Varric, to his companions, thinking back to the Fereldan refugee who'd made his name as Meeran's go-to boy. "Who put the glad in gladiator?" he asked the crowd.
"Garrett Hawke!" came their loud response.
Bethany's dark head appeared in a crowd of mages being shepherded back to the Gallows. She was smiling. "Whose daring deeds are great theatre?"
"Garrett Hawke!"
"Is he bold?" Aveline asked her guards, still trailing behind them.
"No one braver," they agreed.
"Is he sweet?" asked Merrill, to no one in particular.
"Our favourite flavour!" shouted the crowd of young women.
By now, the whole of Hightown was chanting his name. "Garrett Hawke!" they sang, loudly. Garrett Hawke!"
"Bless my soul, Hawke was on a roll," they sang, as Isabela guarded Hawke jealously. "Undefeated! Riding high –"
"And the nicest guy," commented Varric to Cullen as they passed.
"Not conceited!" replied the crowd."He was a nothin' - a zero, zero - now he's a honcho, he's a hero! He hit the heights at breakneck speed - from zero to hero! Hawke is a hero! Now he's a hero!"
Varric listened to the crowd hold their notes for a while, before jumping in front of them."Yes indeed!" he cried, as the crowd burst into applause.
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Up Next: Orana encourages her fellow servants to be happy while working for Mistress Hawke.