Chapter 6: Kirkwall Bound
 “Champion,” she says with narrowed eyes, “Hear me now.” Her voice echoes in the still white surrounding us, and I stand before her to meet her gaze. Then drop to one knee and dip my head to her.
“I hear you, my Lady.” The words come forth automatically, and I can meet her eyes once again.
“The Free Marches are a dangerous place. You may not be able to tell on first glance, or maybe even at all if you’re like the rest of those who live there. But there are many who seek to do harm to men like you. And there are those who will gladly kill and lie to gain power. As most humans seem to do, of course. I will not guide your hands nor your steps here.”
“I would not expect you to hold my hand, my Lady. Just tell me what I need to know.”
She smiles a moment then motions her head to the north-east. The pale shape of a mountain range comes to form right before my eyes.
“As I have said before; a simple delivery. You will find a clan of Dalish elves living at the foot of Sundermount, among tree and stone. Deliver the amulet to their Keeper, Marethari, and she will instruct you further thereafter. Do as she asks. That is all I will tell you for now. I will be watching you.” A grin cracks her wizened maw, “Try not to die too soon this time.”
~
Metal groans, back and forth, rocking with the lapping waves against a metal hull. Racing steps grow louder then fade away with the screams and giggles of blissfully ignorant children. More footsteps follow; the voices of worried parents calling to their offspring to come back to them or not to wander too far—not like they could though, the ship was only so big.
Overhead, gulls cry to one another, and on the occasion you’d hear other beasts of the sea and skies make their sounds. Off to one side of the ship, a crowd had gathered, tourists who had been excited to see some dolphins racing with the ship. They were excited to get to our final destination; Kirkwall, in the Free Marches.
We’ve been stuck on this vessel for near three weeks now. A storm had caught our ship and set us off course—the captain, much to his own good graces, had informed us of this unfortunate delay and then had the nerve to tell us just how he’d be re-routing our course. This news, of course, did not settle well with the businessmen and women who were immediately up in arms and complaining that this was the only vacation time they had for the year.
Honestly it was the highlight of my evening—to listen to them whine. All while I was near dying because my sickness had gotten worse.
I chose to rest on the ground, my back pressed against the cold metallic wall. My staff propped against one shoulder with an arm lazily slung over it, and my ever faithful Mabari gently snoozing on my other side with his head in my lap. Every so often I cast my eyes to the skies, as if hoping for a miracle that would bring us to Kirkwall faster.
Coughing fits had become more frequent, and I had little to no money to secure myself any medicine or a blanket to keep warm. The other passengers didn’t seem to care for a homeless mage. Their ire was palpable and I wouldn’t blame them. I wouldn’t be in this mess if I had just died when I was supposed to.
My sickness didn’t seem to deter the children, though. For some reason they found it funny to try and poke at me, or even try to pet my dog. I’m not even going to apologize for the few times Odin had snapped at their greedy little hands, nor will I apologize for the inevitable tears and screams of terror as little feet bolted away from my location. I’ve heard it all over the past few weeks; being called a horrible dog owner, or that my kind shouldn’t even be on this ship.
My particular favourite comment has to be when a woman outright told me that I’m going to the City of Chains, right where I belong.
That particular comment was a bit surprising, but otherwise expected to come from a rich Ferelden bitch who had openly boasted of letting her son be executed for wielding the power of magic.
To my own desire, I memorized her face, her voice, and just where she bragged about going next.
“Kirkwall is the best place to go—If you’ve ever been to Hightown, the shops there are like nothing else! Too bad that disgusting man wouldn’t ever know what it’s like to shop for beautiful things.”
Well fuck you too, lady.
Anyway, we were stuck together for weeks, and had Odin not been with me, I’d have just jumped into the water and let the brine take me.
~
Between the cold, the uneasy movements of the ship, and the lack of good souls who’d gladly offer a few bucks to a man who was damn near dying—well, I was damn near dying.
For now, I rested against the wall, more or less ostracized from the rest of the ‘herd’ on board. My chin rested againt my chest, and my dog resting faithfully at my side, I suppose the seclusion was worth it, after all, no one tried to pet Odin, or bother me.
That did, however, come to an unfortunate end once I surrendered to my addiction to nicotine and pulled out my only cigarette. As I held it between my teeth, the sudden and loud footfalls of someone stopped me short of lighting it. Sight of a pair of boots drew my attention to the legs, waist, chest, then eventual scowl of a very angry passenger.
“Can I help you?” I gave him the usual monotonous tone, and I don’t think he took that too well.
“Who the hell to you think you are, buddy? You can’t smoke here! There are children on board!”
To hell with the children, why does he even care?
“And?” I flicked my thumb against my palm and set a small flame to the tip, lighting it and taking in the first drag.
“And!? Don’t you care at all about the health of others!?”
Does he really want me to answer that?
His foot comes down only an inch from my knee—I didn’t want to be an asshole today, but this guy is really pushing it.
“Look, asshole, if you hadn’t noticed, I’m not exactly the picture of perfect health myself. No thanks to you rich pricks completely ignoring my situation, so thanks for that by the way.” I pull myself to my feet, and pretty much cover this guy in my shadow. His snarl didn’t go away, and instead my disregard seemed to have riled him up further.
As he opens his mouth and raises his hand, I blow the smoke out in his face. Right into that pretentious mouth of his.
“You really want to pick a fight with someone who can very easily lay you out, is that it?” Just like that, he reaches out, snags it from my mouth and throws it overboard.
Alright. I didn’t know I was going to have to put a bitch in his place, but it looks like that’s going to be the case!
I quietly watch as my only source of calm vanishes in the ocean and for that moment, I don’t move.
“Feeling tough now, big guy?” He’s all up in my face like he thinks he can take me on! His little rant had drawn a crowd of onlookers, and from the looks of it, were rooting for him.
So I’ll let him have his fun.
This guy—I’ll remember him. Average looking bloke; square jaw, eyes set a little too far apart, a large nose that hooked over a sorry attempt at a moustache and cracked lips. Pale eyes and a bald head. He looked tough, but he was more fat than muscle—whereas I am mostly muscle.
“Get ‘em Stan! Kick his ass!” one of his friends crows over the growing voices of others. “Show that abomination whatfor!”
Let him have his fun, Garrett, he’ll be put down soon enough.
So I steeled myself for the first punch as he winds back, then lets it loose. The impact hurt a bit, but the force put me back to the wall. I let him throw a few more punches.
He swings, and I duck and instinctively wheel around and grab hold of his wrist, then twist his arm tight against his chest. Glorious. The look in his eyes held anger no longer, and instead replaced with absolute terror and pain. I strike out at his shoulder and there’s an audible crack—his arm goes limp. I was trained by the best—and I never miss on accident. He shouts at me to stop but do I? No.
I kick his leg out from beneath him and he falls back flat on his back—cracks his head on the floor. Lights out.
Silence covers the ship, and I look up with a smirk to twenty faces marred with terror.
“Anyone else want a go with the ‘abomination’?” There it is. There’s the little spark of anger I’ve been missing. “Which one of you fucks wants to fight me now?” I can feel the snarl race through my body like a greyhound let loose, and damn does it feel good.
Their eyes are on me, and as I see someone approach from my right, I turn to face—one of the guards on board the ship. His hands out in front of him and his aura calm—authoritative as it should be.
“At ease, friend,” says he. “You’re in no danger here. Rest now, please, you’re not well.”
I…
Should rest and calm down… I shrink back and return to my place. I shouldn’t be fighting…
If I had been in any proper condition, I would have argued. But he’s right…
Odin pushes his head between my side and my arm and wuffs up at me. He’s earned a good hug…
“Good dog…”
~
A sharp pain in my side sends me into a violent coughing fit, which also startles me out of a dead sleep. A shadow looms over me, or at least I think someone’s there. I can’t tell—it’s dark out and a brisk wind chills me through and through. It’s colder than normal, and Kirkwall wasn’t exactly known to be some tropical paradise after all.
Whoever stood over me eventually grabbed me up by my arm and pulled me to my feet, patting my shoulder and holding me steady while I gather just what exactly was going on.
“What--?”
They don’t answer as they walk away, so I’m left there in an awkward silence. Anyway, I make my way down the walkway and safely on the docks edge, where I’m swept into the swell of the crowd.
Odin padded faithfully at my side at all times, and kept especially close when my hand rested on his head. He knows how to read me, even though I don’t regularly show much emotion as is, and being in public in a crowd like this… Well, let’s just say that I’m glad I have Odin by my side. A breakdown in front of hundreds of people is not exactly how I want to start in a new city.
I stood in line for some time, and eventually wound up stuck filling out paperwork… a lot of paperwork…
Once outside, I can see exactly the opposite of what I was expecting of Kirkwall. This…
It was like a fortress.
Massive pale stone monstrosities decked with the city’s heraldry and colour. The buildings were built almost prison-like; closely together with very narrow alleyways that connected to maybe two major roadways.
Most of the entrances were barred off from the public, although that did not seem to deter unruly tourists from trying to get in to see what was hidden behind it.
The officers on duty don’t care much for it and within minutes, I watch several struggling people be carted away.
“What is this place?” My voice doesn’t sound like my own, and I can hear my heart racing in my ears. I press Odin’s head to my side and take a slow, deep breath.
“This is the Gallows.” A woman passes by and turns on her heel to face me. “This is where slaves of old had come to work the mines. Now it has been turned into a Circle of Magi. Not one of the best places, if you ask me. It’s very creepy.”
Another elf. I seem to be running into them a lot more lately.
She’s quite beautiful; evenly tanned skin, long blonde hair that cascades over slim shoulders, a nice face, and piercing blue eyes. Little wisps dance around her like she’s some sort of beacon of purity.
A spiritual healer. Never thought I’d find one here. She seems to not worry about my own aura. If anything I hoped that she couldn’t tell what kind of magic I dabbled in, however she just smiles up at me with some form of intrigue in those pretty little eyes of hers.
“You just came here from Gwaren, yeah?” Her accent is cute. Kind of a mix of an old Dalish accent and something I could have mistaken for Scottish.
Probably was Scottish.
“I—uh—yes. I did.”
“You look pretty banged up for a tourist.” Thank you, Captain Obvious.
“I’m not a tourist.” State the obvious, maybe she’ll go away.
“Running from the remainder of the Darkspawn?” She gave me this look that almost made me bust out laughing.
Self-control is a godsend.
“It’s my own business.”
“Business? I see, I see.” She taps her chin thoughtfully then gives me a once over with a smirk tugging at her lips. “I am also here for business; as I have friends in places many would not think. I host an art gallery in Hightown, perhaps when you look less like you lost the battle with a cave bear, you can come by?” The elf extends her hand, her unsettling grin staying put.
“My name is Eris, by the way. Eris Tabris. It’s a pleasure to meet you, mister…?”
For a moment I hesitate. This woman is far too friendly to just some random, battered, stranger and being in my current state I can’t let my guard down too easily for a pretty face.
But she seemed genuine.
“Hawke. The pleasure’s all mine.” I couldn’t resist returning the smirk as I took her hand, and then she turned away with that grin lingering.
“I look forward to seeing you again soon, Hawke, I have a feeling our paths will cross again.”
“The feeling is mutual, farewell.”
Gods I hope I didn’t just make a mistake.
She moved like the wind, weaving between people effortlessly as if she were ethereal, though I could make out the very slight parting of the masses to let her pass. Spirit healers were a rarity these days, what with the tensions growing between mage and Templar, so it was no wonder that people parted to let her through. I suppose it was quite lucky that I had made her acquaintance after all.
I would not allow myself any further hesitation as I needed to get to the inner city and, hopefully, get medical attention or find a safe place to lick my wounds. The crowded streets offered no comfort despite pulling me along the course they flowed, and it was difficult to not bring attention to myself between hacking coughs, stumbling over other smaller folk, and the fact that I stood out like a sore thumb.
I could not let that get to me, though, the eyes upon me and the muffled voices.
Disheartening to hear them speak ill of someone in my position—at least that was what my ever delightful mind was telling me.
You always think that everyone is out to get you, don’t you? Well you’re probably right.
Thanks brain, needed that.
Eventually, I took my attention from the backs of people in front of me and turned it towards the skies. The entire fortress, albeit terrifying, was decorated with all sorts of holiday décor. A bit awkward if I had to be honest. Something so dreary being so decorated with bright lights and colours.
The sky behind it slowly faded from pinks to the blues of day.
How romantic… I thought bitterly.
As pretty as the scene is, my current standing is beyond abhorrent. If anything it could have been decorated up like my home had been; prettied with all sorts of lights that had caused more than its fair share of mid-winter power outtages…
Home…
I miss Ferelden already… I miss my shitty apartment in Lothering. I used to think that it was something great; that I was able to be independent and finally owning my own place but I was hardly ever there. Under any normal circumstances I would have been content to be at home with a simple job, but it was because of Danarius that I was not able to be normal. He had kept me at his side as often as he could and that usually entailed me travelling with him.
All over the world.
I mean, after all, I was his bodyguard among other things. Perhaps that illusion of independence was what had kept me so tethered to him.
Maybe it was because I thought he actually loved me. I… Thought I was special in a place that had tried to make me just like everyone else.
~
My thoughts came to an abrupt halt as I found myself caught in the rush of people pushing their way through the gates and onto the next ferry bound for Kirkwall. I would have panicked, or been trampled—either one would have been a horrible experience in my first day in this super weird city—but a firm hand yanks me out of the crowd and pulls me off to the side. I see flashing lights, and a black uniformed woman standing right in front of me.