Last Visitor from Nowhere

Kirkwall, The Hanged Man

Varric Tethras:

The tavern below functioned as a fine outer alarm as he worked on his records. Any kerfuffle or brawl changed the noise level as soon as someone dangerous appeared. Some belligerent alcoholic might even halt any progress before he could draw more ink into his quill.

He'd always paid some attention to the noise level, and he'd paid from the vein for a quicker exit. After the Chantry fell and Hawke fled, he'd had too many interruptions from killjoys who thought he knew more.

He did, of course. He was surprised when Hawke strode into his suite one day months later. Vaughn's staff was new, but his Circle-style robes were well worn. His beard was gone and hair a reddish blond, but his nose was still broken and he was kinetically moving through Varric's suite. They traded news. Hawke was discouraged by the war's progress with how militant the Templar schism had gotten. The Inquisition had a foothold through central Thedas, but the lands further away like Ferelden and Anderfels were holding their own stubborn independence.

The visit was short, and as they said their farewells he wondered if he could get away with adding new tales to the Champion's story.

Today the drinkers below were sampling a new vat of slightly fresher ale that had been breached. He replied to a petition from Merchant Mischa out of Amaranthine, that she requested arbitration from a Master for a disputed shipment from House Saelac in Orzammar. He'd had some disputes with them as well, and wrote a note to ask Mithas to put it in motion in the thaig.

The noise in the room below shifted enough that he tensed, pulling the rope to shut the door. He started to slide his papers quietly into one of his prefabricated protective cases and dropped them into a stone niche as he listened to the silence from below.

Even listening carefully, he heard no breaking wood or broking heads, it was so silent he almost fancied he could hear the rats scurrying away.

Next he heard scratching from the door, and Bianca fell into his arms for a quick caress.

The scratching repeated and some noise cautiously began down below again. Whatever it was, it was outside his door.

“Come in!” he called, holding Bianca ready to fire. Locking wasn't that much more effective than closing, and he'd rather have a larger field of fire.

A howl came from the hallway.

He scrambled to the door and threw it open. Outside was Fideli, Hawke's mabari, covered in a lot of blood and looking exhausted.

Eyes filling, he let the mabari in silently and locked the door.

He cleaned and checked the mabari for injuries, and found only what he thought were minor ones. Pulling a healing potion out, the mabari drank it with an air of defeat.

He scratched behind the mabari's ears, what had never been permitted... before.

Words failed him. They were surely dead.

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A/N: Challenge words this time are kerfuffle, killjoy, and kinetic. Thanks to my beta reader who has been kind enough to read this and point out stupid flubs. Any typos that remain are not intentional... Reviews or a PM to let me know what you think would be very appreciated.