Smithner: I'm still about, just forgetful as all that. I try to have an alarm set so that I make sure to upload at least once a week! Though I've been pretty rubbish since the start of the year.

Judy: I'm glad to see you're still about!

Chapter 7

It was early when Merrill woke up, she rolled over and there was a sense in the back of her head saying that something wasn't quite right. Merrill sat up and rubbed her eyes, 'good morning, Mena,' she said with a stretch. Instead of the usual bounce she would feel as Mena would land on her bed having jumped from her perch on the wardrobe, she felt nothing. Merrill frowned and looked up to where Mena normally slept. She was gone. Fear hit her like a tidal wave and she leapt out of bed, she grabbed her leggings and pulled them on as she hobbled towards the door. Making sure to pick up the tunic that was draped over her kitchen chair so she was dressed enough to run outside. 'Mena?!' Merrill shouted; the sun was barely up.

There was a little grumbling from other elves who were setting up their stalls for the day. Merrill held a lot of respect in the Alienage and she ran over to one of the men. 'Have ya seen a woman, elf, nae tattoos but with light red hair? Scars, um, she cannae really talk?' She asked frantically. Mena hadn't left her house in over a month; Merrill had been taking her teaching slowly and making sure that she was as acclimatised as she was going to be before letting her leave.

'Afraid not, miss,' the seller replied with a shrug of his shoulders.

Merrill bit her thumbnail as she looked around, panic was rising steadily inside her. Mena's speech had been coming along well but her socialisation skills weren't to be desired. People had been coming over to visit but there had never been more than five of them in her small house. She didn't know how Mena would react to a large crowd. Her instinct told her that Mena would hide but the city was dangerous with threats that Mena didn't understand. 'Mena! Mena! Ya cannae hide! Come ta me, lethallan!' Merrill called loudly as she looked around the Alienage. She looked at the sellers, 'if ya see her, take her to ma home!' Merrill more demands than asks.

'Oh, Mena, where are ya?' Merrill asked herself as she decided to go to Hawke's. His home wasn't far and it was early enough to assume that he was still in. She ran up the stairs out of the Alienage and quickly made her way to where Hawke was staying until his new estate was ready. She hammered on the door causing Peaches to start barking as she protected her household. Merrill hopped from foot to foot as she heard Gamlen complain and shout at the Mabari.

'Bloody creature- What do you want?' Gamlen asked as he wrenched open the door having clearly only just woken up.

'Hawke? Where's Hawke?' Merrill asked as she looked in the house hoping to see him, Peaches shoves Gamlen out the way as she demands attention from Merrill.

Gamlen rolls his eyes and looks her up and down, seeing as she was dressed rather scantily, he sneered. 'Look, I know you elves like to do it like rabbits. I'm sure you can wait a few hours-'

'What?!' Merrill said in a high-pitched tone. 'No! I've lost ma friend!' She corrects scowling at him.

'Ugh, whatever, point being, he's not here. He went out last night and he's not come back. Believe me I wish he had as Leandra is driving me up the wall worrying about him. Check in with his dwarfy friend at the Hanged Man. And take the damned hound with you,' he snapped as he slammed the door in her face.

Merrill pulled an expression of annoyance, 'fenhedis iasa,' she cursed as she looked at the door. Peaches whined and she patted her on the head lightly. 'Come on, girl. Let's get ta the Hanged Man an' hopefully we'll find Mena soon.' Peaches barked happily and began to trot off towards the tavern with Merrill in tow. The elf felt sick, she was constantly thinking about what might have happened to Mena, she had no idea where she had gone. Lately she had been pestering Merrill to go outside and Merrill was warming up to the idea but she hadn't expected her to just vanish. With a heavy sigh she opened the door of the tavern, it was reasonably quiet and there were only the most determined patrons in drinking. She followed Peaches up to Varric's rooms, she knocked on the door before she entered. Varric seemed to be asleep but Merrill couldn't wait, she walked into his bedroom and Peaches effectively woke him up before she could. The Mabari leapt onto his bed and clambered onto his chest, licking his face.

'Ugh! What the-? Peaches? Get off. Come on,' Varric moaned as he attempted to brush her off.

'Varric! Mena's gone!' Merrill said as she grabbed Peaches' collar and helped drag her off.

'What? Daisy, it's bloody early. What do you mean gone?' Varric said as he sat up. He rubbed an eye and blinked in the very early light that streamed through the window.

'She's gone! I cannae find her!' Merrill had started to cry. 'Hawke ain't at home an' I dinnae know what ta do!'

'Alright, alright, breathe,' Varric said as he got up and pulled a clean shirt on. He took her by the hand and lead her back to the other room, he sat her down in one of the chairs and she explained what she had found that morning. Varric listened and nodded, 'okay well she can't have gotten too far,' he said as he reassured the elf. 'Why don't you go home and wait there. I'll grab Riviani and when Hawke gets back, we'll start scouring the city.' Merrill wiped her eyes and nodded, it made sense. Mena would know where Merrill lived and hopefully, she would find her way back soon. She took Peaches with her and made her way back to the Alienage.

-x-

Sebastian looked over at Fenris, both of them had travelled with Hawke to the coast the previous night and neither of them had slept. Aveline had joined them but she had her patrol to return to so she had managed to go home for a few hours sleep before work. Sebastian had only met Mena a couple of times, 'so this was expected?' He asked Fenris who looked just as tired as him.

They had all congregated in the Alienage square, everyone but Anders and Aveline. Fenris nods and shrugs his shoulders, 'she was bound to get restless, her curiosity is pretty high,' he said simply as he looked around. Merrill was still a state and Garrett was holding her softly trying to calm her down. Isabela and Varric were talking while they decided what to do, it had been a few hours since the sun rose and there had been no sign of her whatsoever.

Merrill had finally calmed down and Garrett motioned them all over. 'Okay, so, I've been thinking. Isabela, go to the docks. Varric, lowtown, Sebastian, check the Chantry and surrounding area. Merrill, sweetness,' he said touching her shoulder. 'Go home and stay there. We'll come get you when we find her,' Garrett smiled at her as she sniffed and wiped her eyes. 'Fenris, can you check around the Alienage? You're more likely to blend in and people won't get up in arms about what you're doing. I'm going to go to darktown and make sure that she hasn't found herself in trouble. I'll check in with Anders and have him keep an eye out.'

Now that everyone had been given their tasks they split up. Merrill gave Hawke a weak wave as she shut her door and Fenris mentally sighed. All he wanted to do was sleep. The market in the Alienage was in full swing and there were a lot of people around, if Mena was around here, he had no doubt that she would be hidden. He did a cursory look around the main areas of the Alienage before taking a brief rest underneath the large tree that grew in the middle of the square. He closed his eyes as he felt the warmth of the sun on his face. Despite the noises around him, he felt strangely relaxed. Fenris opened an eye as a shadow crossed his face, there was something in the tree above him. He took off his sword and leaned it against the tree. He was pretty sure that it would be fine, it wouldn't exactly be easy to wander off with it. Fenris placed his foot on a protruding bark knot and pulled himself into the lower branches. He got a few looks from the other elves that were around, ignoring them he climbed further up into the canopy.

As he got higher Fenris could hear the tell-tale chittering of Mena. 'Are you up here?' He asked as he looked around. He jumped a little as she dropped down onto the branch in front of him. 'Mena, what are you doing up here?' Fenris asked simply as he adjusted his footing.

'Fennis,' she whispered looking down into the market. 'Help me, halani,' she said as she bit her hand. Fenris raised a brow and glanced down, it was rather busy and he could understand her apprehension.

'Wait here,' he said simply, 'ah, mana,' he added in Dalish hoping that was the right word as he began to climb back down. Having found her he walked over to Merrill's home and knocked on the door.

Merrill nearly tore the door off its hinges as she opened it. 'Have ya found her?' She said in a panic. 'Already?!' Fenris nods and motions her to follow him. Merrill tilts her head but does indeed follow him towards the tree. 'What? Where is she?' She asked as she looked around. Fenris raises a brow and points up with a finger, his elbow cupped with his other hand. Merrill's brows furrow and she looked up before she gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. 'Ah! Mena! What are ya doin' up there?!'

'I am going home,' Fenris stated as he picks up his sword.

'Wait! Ya cannae leave, we need ta get her out the tree! An' the others are still lookin' fer her,' Merrill said as she looked up the tree to where Mena was watching them, her expression was one of fear.

Fenris mentally growled and looked at the other elf. 'So, do you expect me to wander around the city and find the others?' He asked bluntly, daring her to answer.

'Fenris, please,' Merrill said as she held her hands together. He knew that if he refused Hawke would never leave it alone. Damn the woman.

He breathed in deeply and looked up at Mena. 'Very well, get her out the tree, she may as well come with us,' he said simply. Merrill gives him a confused look and he rubbed his eyes, 'she is obviously bored, or curious, or... restless. Perhaps if you show her some of the city she may settle down,' he pointed out. 'The sooner that this is over, the sooner I can go to bed and actually sleep.'

Merrill reluctantly agrees and began to climb the tree up to where Mena was waiting. 'Come, come on, Mena,' she said in a soothing voice as she held her hand out to her. 'Lethallan, tis okay,' she smiled as Mena gently took her fingers. It took some coaxing but she eventually came out of the tree, though she didn't leave Merrill's side. Fenris gave Mena a look and she smiled at him in reply making him want to roll his eyes. She didn't even understand what she had done. This was going to be a frustrating morning.

Not the longest chapter I'm afraid but the rest of the story is written, so hopefully there won't be any horrific waiting time.

Stay safe! Take care!