Chapter Three
Carver drummed his fingers against the scratched tabletop, his half empty glass of ale pushed to one side.
"That's it then, we're free."
Marian nodded, rubbing patterns in the condensation on her own glass.
"An entire year come and gone," she mused. "All we have to do now is figure out what comes next."
"Well, we have to find a way to make some coin if you're really not going to take any more work from Athenril."
"I know," she said quietly. "Mother has been going on and on about the family estate and petitioning the Viscount since she saw Grandfather's will." She scoffed in frustration. "It will never happen unless we have the gold to make it happen."
"I don't give a rat's ass about the estate." He lifted his drink and drained it.
"Regardless of your opinion on the matter, I think we are agreed that Mother deserves better. We don't want any of us to have to stay with Gamlen a second longer than we must."
"I'll say." Carver chuckled. "Do you know he was so drunk the other night that he walked into the neighbors place? Screamed at the woman to get out of his house before he called the city guard!"
Marian shook her head. "I can't believe we share blood with him. He spends all his time drinking and whoring."
He narrowed his eyes. "He swears he saw you at the Rose last month- with a ginger-haired man." Carver watched her cheeks redden and laughed triumphantly. "I didn't think you would go so far to appease templars, sister!"
"I was working on the lyrium problem, Carver, which we never did find an answer to. It just so happens our investigation took us there for a reason other than hiring prostitutes."
"You know your eyebrow twitches funny when you lie to me, right?"
She leaned back in her chair and sighed. "Fine. If you must know, I got it on with two elves and a dwarf, and the templar watched. All in the name of gathering information, of course."
"Ugh, Mari," his nose wrinkled in disgust. "Just- ugh. I didn't need that image in my head."
"You asked," she said, and stood. "Come on, I've heard rumors of a prospect for work in Hightown. Let's go see if there's anything to it."
Carver stood and buckled his sword on. "It's not exactly a plan, but it's better than nothing. Lead on, sister."
Marian scrutinized their new dwarf acquaintance, Varric . "I don't ever remember seeing you at the Hanged Man."
"I'm good at blending into the shadows when I want to." His eyes flicked to Carver. "I've seen Junior here quite a bit. Likes to drink at all hours of the day."
She raised a brow at her brother and smiled. "Doesn't he, though?"
He glared and crossed his arms. "I'm standing right here, you know."
She returned her attention to Varric and tilted her head. "We could use any work you're willing to throw our way. As to the rest…how are you so certain I'm what you and your brother are looking for?"
He leaned closer, pitching his voice low. "I keep my ears open. Athenril would have kept you if she could, and that's even with your unique set of skills. And don't worry about me giving you away, your secret's safe with me."
Her eyebrows rose into her messy fringe. "I suppose some secrets aren't as secret as I thought. Hmmm, alright, but I'll have to give the Deep Roads venture a little more thought before I agree for certain."
"No problem, Hawke, there's still time. Come by tomorrow and I'll have a list of jobs we can get started on."
"We'll see you then," Marian said, turning to leave.
Marian and Carver headed back toward Lowtown and he leaned closer to her.
"Don't you think he's just a little too smooth?"
She smiled in amusement. "It's called charm, brother, in case you wondered." Her smile brightened. "I like him. I think we'll work well together."
"Let's hope you're right."
The following week found the two siblings sitting in Varric's quarters on the upper floor of the Hanged Man.
"Alright, Varric, I'm ready to do this Deep Roads thing. Maker knows, there are few other prospects." She drummed her fingers against the table where they were seated.
"I knew you'd see the opportunity for what it was, Hawke." He leaned forward, resting his forearms against the table. "I've heard rumors of a Grey Warden in town."
"Oh? How could a Grey Warden help us?" Her brow furrowed in thought. "Don't they just fight darkspawn?"
Carver huffed. "I don't see what's so special about that. I fought plenty of darkspawn at Ostagar and Lothering."
Varric shrugged a shoulder. "But think about where darkspawn come from, Junior. Wardens have maps of the deep roads, and that's something we need."
Marian nodded in understanding. "I see your point, Varric. How do we find this Grey Warden?"
Varric stood and walked across the room to strap on his crossbow, Bianca. "There's a woman named Lirene who might have more information. She helps out Ferelden refugees. Word is she runs a little shop not far from here, if you want to go now."
"No time like the present, " Marian said with a smile. They made their way out of the Hanged Man, and across Lowtown to question Lirene.
An hour later, they were walking the Darktown tunnels, heading for the secret clinic where she had taken Carver to have his arm mended.
"Do you really think that healer was a Grey Warden, Mari? He didn't look very impressive to me."
She shared an amused smile with Varric. "Just exactly what do you think they should look like, Carver? Ten feet tall with fire shooting from their eyes?"
He glared at her. "Something stronger than a mage. I bet I could cleave him with a single blow."
She flicked her fingers surreptitiously, sending stinging lightning along his brow.
"What- hey! No fair, Mari."
"You forget, brother, mages don't fight fair." The smile faded from her face. "They can't afford to."
Varric gestured, slowing his steps. "There's the lantern. Is this it?"
Hawke nodded and pushed the door open, entering the dingy place. Anders was healing a small child, and expending a great deal of energy, if the way he slumped against a pillar afterwards was any indication.
She walked over and he looked at her with a small, relieved smile.
"Hawke, I see you got my message. Thank you for coming so promptly."
She looked at Carver and Varric, who were staring at her blankly.
"No, I didn't get any message. I actually came to talk to you about some maps. I've heard you are a Grey Warden. Is that true?"
His eyes narrowed as he glanced back and forth between the three of them. "If the Wardens hired you to bring me back, you're wasting your time. I'm not going."
"I don't work for anyone, and I'm sure your business is your own. I just wanted to know if you had maps of the Deep Roads I could purchase, or barter for in some way. We're planning an expedition, but we need a way in."
He rubbed his stubbled chin thoughtfully. "You offered your help to me before. Would you still be willing to do me a service, with the maps as reward?"
She bit her lip. "That would depend, I suppose. If you want me to kill the Knight-Commander, that might be just a bit beyond my skills."
His eyes crinkled when he smiled, and he stepped closer to her, speaking in a half-whisper.
"As tempting as that thought is, that's not what I need. I have a friend who I'm helping to escape from the circle. He fears his life is in danger, so I have to move quickly. I've arranged to meet him tonight in the chantry, but I need someone with me." He hesitated. "In case something goes wrong."
Hawke stared at him with wide eyes. "Meaning if templars attack? Are you mad?"
He made a frustrated noise. "Please? I'm not expecting any trouble, I just don't want to go alone. Wouldn't you want someone to help you? What if it was your brother or sister?"
Her eyes flicked to Carver as her mind conjured an image of Bethany. Anders eyes were sad and pleading. "I want to help your friend, Anders, I just…" She sighed, "what do you need me to do?"
He smiled slightly, the tension leaving his shoulders. "Just meet me tonight outside the chantry. We'll get Karl and get out of there. Simple."
He walked away, returning to his patients, and the three of them left the clinic. Marian wondered if it could really be that easy.
Hawke walked up the stairs to Gamlen's house to find her mother hovering nervously in the doorway.
"Marian! Thank the Maker!" Leandra pulled her into the house and hugged her fiercely.
"It's nice to see you too, Mother, but I've only been out for a few hours," she said jokingly.
"There was a templar here," she said urgently. "He asked for you by name. Oh Maker! You'll have to leave immediately. Take all the coin you have saved and just go!"
Hawke gripped her mother by the shoulders, searching her frantic face. "Calm down, Mother. Tell me what he looked like. Was he tall and broad-shouldered, with green eyes and reddish hair?"
Leandra looked surprised and nodded. "Yes, yes, that's the one. Has he been following you?"
She released her mother and shook her head. "I do know him, but he has no idea I'm a mage. I did some work for him. What did he say he wanted?"
"Oh, thank goodness!" Sagging with relief, Leandra rubbed her brow, trying to remember. "He was very polite and he seemed a bit nervous. He said…he said he would call on you another time." Her mother looked at her in horror. "Marian, you haven't encouraged a templar romantically, have you?"
Hawke laughed nervously, wondering just how much to divulge. "It's nothing like that. I believe he considers me a friend. We fought together, and sort of helped each other out of a rather sticky trap. Carver knows him as well. His name is Cullen. He's the Knight-Captain here in Kirkwall."
Her mother swayed on her feet, the shock of the revelation catching up to her, and Marian guided her to a chair to sit down. She fetched her a drink, and watched in concern while she drank it.
"Don't worry, Mother," she said soberly, "I won't let anything harm our family."
Leandra stroked her face gently and smiled. "I know you won't. Just be careful, love. I can't lose you too."
Marian gave her a winning smile and turned to the soup bubbling over the fire. "Let me get you some lunch."
"Well that certainly didn't go as planned," Carver hissed, shaking the blood from his sword when the last of the Hightown gang that jumped them was defeated.
Hawke's eyes wandered again to Anders as she thought of the terrible chain of events in the chantry. Not only had his friend Karl been made tranquil and used as bait to lure Anders in, but they had been forced to slaughter their way through a half dozen templars in order to escape.
"Come on," she said briskly, turning down another darkened street, "we can't linger."
"Uh, Mari…" Carver's voice trailed off, as they looked at the small group of templars heading for them.
"Wait," she whispered, signaling for them not to draw their weapons. "Let me do the talking." Her eyes flicked to Anders. "Hide behind that pillar. Carver and Varric, come with me."
She planted a pleasant smile on her face that she didn't even have to force when the leader smiled at her. He turned to his men and told them to continue on, and he would join them directly.
"Marian, how do we always seem to run into each other at night in Hightown?" He smiled teasingly. "Nice to see you again, Carver. I'm glad you're keeping a watch on your sister. The arm healed up with no problem?"
"Good as new," Carver assured him.
Hawke stepped closer to Cullen. "My mother is an excellent nurse," she said smoothly.
"Ah, yes. I met your mother earlier when I came by to see you. What a delightful lady she is. I can see where you get your charm from." Carver snorted and Cullen looked at the amused dwarf, standing close by. "I'm afraid I haven't met your companion."
Varric gave a half-bow. "How do you do, Serrah, I am Varric Tethras, at your service."
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Knight-Captain Cullen. Any friend of the Hawke family is a friend of mine."
Varric nodded shrewdly, looking back and forth between Cullen and Marian. "I understand the feeling."
Cullen looked regretfully at them. "I'm afraid duty calls, we got word of some disturbance at the chantry. Excuse us for a moment." He took Marian's hand and tugged her a few feet away, leaning close. "When can I see you? It's been weeks."
She turned so her back was to her companions, chewing her lip in thought. "I'm free at week's end. We could take a picnic to the coast, maybe?"
He smiled, already making plans. "I know just the place. I'll come by for you before midday." He lifted her hand and brushed his lips across her fingers in his usual, courtly manner, making her blush. "Good evening, milady." He walked away, the clank of his armor fading in the distance.
Marian sighed in relief and beckoned the others. The sooner they got out of Hightown, the better.
The four of them entered the clinic and Anders bolted the lock.
"Varric, Carver, give me a few minutes please. I need to speak with Anders in private." They nodded assent, flopping onto empty cots to wait. The healer flinched, but headed to the back, with her close on his heals.
She stood staring at him for a long moment. "Care to explain what that blue, glowy-eyed thing was you turned into back in the chantry?" She hesitated. "Are you an abomination?"
He laughed bitterly and then fell silent. "No. But you're close." He explained how he met the benevolent spirit of justice trapped outside the fade, and they decided to merge and work together to bring justice to mages in Thedas.
Hawke remained quiet for a moment when he finished speaking. "You're saying your rage has warped this spirit into what I saw. You didn't really look like a demon."
He started pacing. "He's not a demon, I'm not a demon. I- I don't know what we are, really. I just know I want to do all I can to help mages, but when I get angry….well, you saw what happened."
"That's a noble goal, I suppose. You're very courageous to attempt what you did. I've spent my entire life fleeing danger."
Anders eyes narrowed and he stepped closer, his lips pressed into a grim line. "That's not what it looked like earlier with that templar."
She glanced down, flushing uncomfortably. "That's complicated."
"Does he know what you are?" He touched her shoulder hesitantly.
She shook her head, still studying the floor and he stepped away with a sigh. "I know it's not my place to say, but I don't want to see anything happen to you. It's a dangerous game you're playing. Please, be careful."
"I will."
He walked over to a side cupboard and shuffled through some papers, finally withdrawing a rolled bundle of parchment.
"My maps are yours, as am I if you ever have need of me. I won't forget what you did for me tonight, Hawke."
She smiled ruefully, "Does that willingness extend to accompanying me to the Deep Roads? I could certainly use a skilled healer on such a venture."
He blew out a breath and nodded. "I hate the blighted Deep Roads. But I meant what I said, so if you want me to go, I will."
She grinned widely, and his mouth tugged up in an answering smile. She walked over to him and gripped his arm, her expression fading to sorrow.
"Anders, I'm very sorry about Karl. I wish there had been another way, but it's what I would want done if I were ever made tranquil. You granted him peace."
He covered her hand with his own, squeezing gratefully. "I know. Thank you for your understanding. You've been a good friend."
She kissed his cheek and withdrew her hand. "I'll see you soon."
She walked back into the clinic, holding up the bundled maps with a smile.
"Let's go. I need a drink."
Varric trudged along behind her with a smile. "Now you're talking. I like how you operate, Hawke."
Carver adjusted his sword against his back. "Since you looted the bodies, sister, you can buy."
She pinched Carver's arm affectionately. "Okay, baby brother, but not enough for you to break your arm."
He slapped her hand away, miffed. "Are you ever going to stop teasing me about that?"
Marian laughed and Varric spoke up. "If older sisters are anything like older brothers, you better get used to it, Junior."
Carver brooded all the way to the Hanged Man.
~o~