"Hawke, I need a favor." The nervous twitch in his voice sent warning bells shrieking in alarm in her head.
Hawke eyed Varric with a curious glance. "It's not often I hear those words from you, Varric," she said with a grin. She couldn't even remember the last time he'd ask for a favor.
Varric laughed. "Trust me Hawke, it's not often I say them."
"Alright then," she said, leaning back in her chair. "Out with it."
"It's for a friend in the Dwarven Merchant's Guild," Varric told her. "He's in Hightown, if you wouldn't mind the short walk to go talk to him."
"Now? I promised Sebastian a visit this morning," Hawke informed him. "Can it wait until this afternoon?"
"Even better, bring Choir Boy along," Varric insisted. "And drag Broody out of his mansion too. I have a feeling I'll need a lot of backup on this one."
Ah, so it was that kind of favor. With a heavy sigh, Hawke reluctantly agreed to talk to Varric's friend. More so out of curiosity than anything else. "Alright Varric, lead the way."
After meeting up with Sebastian at the Chantry and asking Fenris to join them, the four made their way through Hightown to a small alcove just west of the Blooming Rose. Hawke saw an older dwarf with a very neat white beard standing beside a few crates. Next to him was an elf woman, and both their eyes widened as Hawke and her friends approached. Apparently in the company of Varric, they knew who she was.
At first Yevhen, the dwarf, seemed hostile toward Hawke, blaming her for his troubles. Unbelieving of the audacity of the dwarf, Hawke turned to Varric. "This is your favor? To be chastised by a man I've never even met?"
Varric shook his head and played the peace-keeper. "Yevhen's boys went venturing into the Deep Roads," Varric explained. "After hearing about our little adventure, they thought they could find some treasure of their own."
"Hawke isn't to blame," the elf, Dera, spoke up. "These aren't boys, they are grown men." She went on to explain how the three went alone, the middle son refusing to take anyone else for fear of having to share any reward they may find.
"Sounds familiar," Varric commented under his breath.
Yevhen and Dera continued to explain their dysfunctional family. Even though Dera was technically the servant of the house, she had raised Yevhen's children after their mother died. It was a sad story indeed, and it was clear they both cared deeply for the missing dwarves. Well, with the exception of Dera, who didn't hide her disgust for the middle son.
Their fear was that something terrible had happened to boys, as they went alone without the assistance of a full expedition crew like Bartrand had hired. With no mercenaries, no real fighting skill, or even supplies or food and water...
"So you want me to return to the Deep Roads and retrieve them?" Hawke asked.
"Yes," Yevhen said. "Please Serah Hawke, I don't know who else to turn to."
Hawke could feel Varric's eyes on her, waiting for her answer. "Give me a moment, please," she said as she walked away from them, needing space to think.
The only one to follow was Sebastian. He hadn't been there during the last trip to the Deep Roads, but he had heard enough from her companions to know it was not an easy task. "Hawke," he called to her softly, placing his hand on her shoulder. "What is it?"
She turned to look at him, his beautiful blue eyes full of concern. "Truth?"
"Of course," Sebastian said, his fingertips trailing from her shoulder, down her arm, to her hand, which he took in his and held.
"I don't want to go back," Hawke whispered so the others couldn't hear. "We were lucky last time, all of us making it out without being tainted. I don't want to push my luck, or risk the lives of my friends again. The last time brought up a lot of memories for me; my sister, who died because of the darkspawn, Aveline's husband Wesley, whom I killed with my own hands before the taint consumed him... The nightmares I had of that place, of being trapped..." she couldn't continue, her heart heavy from recalling the painful details.
Sebastian gently squeezed her hand. "You'll be prepared this time," he assured her. "No one is there to trap you, and you'll have me by your side."
Hawke shook her head. "I don't think I can."
"I know you Hawke," Sebastian stated, taking her other hand. "If you don't do this, and something happens to those dwarves, you'll never forgive yourself."
Sebastian wasn't wrong, she knew it as much as he did. What would be worse? Facing the demons of her past? Or living with the guilt of knowing she may have been able to save Yevhen's children should the worst happen? "You're right, of course," Hawke admitted.
His bright smile at her resolve was nearly reward enough.
Returning to Yevhen, Hawke agreed to help. "I'll do everything in my power to bring your sons home."
"Thank you messere," Yevhen replied. "Those boys are my life. They used the same passage you did. Please, find them, and bring them home."
Dearest Father,
I don't think I've ever been happier to see the gates of Kirkwall as I was today. Thankfully we didn't have to spend several weeks in the Deep Roads like the last time, but returning there was enough of a reminder of why I didn't want to go back in the first place. My living conscience, otherwise known as Sebastian, convinced me to go.
He was right to do so. Yevhen's boys got themselves into some serious trouble, and we failed in saving all three. By the time we arrived, the middle son, Iwan, had abandoned his brothers for some legendary sword. We found Emerys easily enough, and he was the one that informed us Iwan had run off and locked their other brother Merin away to battle darkspawn on his own. The entire situation was a mess.
Varric couldn't stop going on about the familiarity with this family and his own. I felt bad for bringing him along then, having not considered his feelings on returning to the site of Bartrand's betrayal, but Varric assured me he was fine with it.
We were able to save Merin, but in spending time fighting the darkspawn in order to do so, we failed to save Iwan. I knew Dera wouldn't be so heartbroken over it, but no matter how rotten Iwan was, his father still felt the loss. Much to Varric's disappointment, I gave my portion of the reward to Sebastian for the Chantry. Our mission wasn't a complete success, and I didn't feel right keeping the gold for myself.
We never did find the sword they were looking for.
Sebastian surprised me in the confines of the stone. His calming tone convinced Emerys that Merin would be safe and sound, so much so he had me believing it too. I wanted to remind him not to make promises we weren't certain we could keep, but in the end he was right. I asked him on the way back what made him say such a thing, and he told me that choosing to save Merin instead of tracking down Iwan and the sword was the right thing to do, and so the Maker would reward us for the correct decision.
Every time I think we're a step closer, Sebastian brings up his faith. I'm left wondering what the correct decision is for him, or if he even knows what he wants? He's attentive and kind, becoming bolder with his affections... and yet the Maker still plays a major role in his life.
Where do I fit in?