14th Duel [Audio]

[iwannabeadragon]

So we're having a tournament? I can see this ending fantastically.

[Sealed to Varric, Anders, FenisFenris, and Vie]

So who's ready to do something stupid and possibly dangerous?

Comments

[gotyourwallet]

[Sealed to Varric, Anders, Fenris and Haaawke]

Just what did you have in mind?

[Someone sounds interested.]

[iwannabeadragon]

[Sealed 4evah]

[Ah, here comes the hard part of this whole thing. Telling Vie.]

Oh you know, exploring something we shouldn't and possibly getting killed in the process. The usual really.

[gotyourwallet]

Point the way. I'm ready to go whenever the rest of you are.

[Someone hasn't quite caught on to what the real goal is.]

Dare I ask where we're off to, exactly?

[iwannabeadragon]

[Hawke is feeling so many things right now it's making his stomach churn.]

Dare as much as you like. We're off to a tower by the forest and the lake.

[gotyourwallet]

To what end? What's our prize?

[She knows him well enough to know that something's up. Vie just has no idea if she's imagining it or if it's really there.]

[iwannabeadragon]

[No beating around the bush Hawke. Just tell her. It's like ripping of a bandage. The quicker you do it the less painful it is.]

If we're lucky? A way home.

[gotyourwallet]

[She pauses.]

Ah.

[Welp. She does her best to keep up the pep.]

Alright then. When do we go?

[iwannabeadragon]

Whenever we're ready.

[The "excitement" in his voice is all but gone when he hears her response.]

Where are you?

[gotyourwallet]

As I said before, just say the word.

[For the moment she's torn. As always she wants to see him, and yet this time she hesitates. Right now she's too emotional.]

I'm in the Library.

[On her way out is more likely. Vie needs to walk for a bit, climb something, get her thoughts back in order.]

[iwannabeadragon]

[This isn't something he wants to speak about over the journals. It needs to be face to face. For once Hawke is absolutely serious about something.]

I'll be right there.

[And he makes a beeline towards the library.]

[gotyourwallet]

[He'll find her by the door, sliding a book back onto a shelf and doing a fine job of pretending nothing is the matter and she's just waiting for someone to get there.]

[iwannabeadragon]

[Hawke quietly steps beside her. There's so many things he wants to say but just doesn't know how to start. For once he's speechless, and at the worst time too. Hesitantly he puts a hand on her shoulder to get her attention.]

[gotyourwallet]

[She glances at him and offers a small smile.]

It's going to happen someday, Garrett.

[Vie shrugs a little and drops her hand from the shelf. Much as she wants to, she refuses to cry or let the emotion get the better of her. Right now she's in control, and in control she'll stay.]

Might as well be today.

[iwannabeadragon]

I have to get the others home.

[Since his discovery Hawke's been holding off on this as long as he could. It was selfish but after everything he's done he thought he deserved to be a little selfish.]

Vie I...

[By the Maker why does this have to be so hard.]

You mean everything to me, and I'll never stop loving you. This won't be the end. I won't let it. Someway, somehow, I'll find you again.

[gotyourwallet]

[She puts her hand on his, touch faint and barely there.]

I know.

[Hawke's not the only one stuck for words right now. It's good to know that he still loves her, that this seemingly sudden call for action is in regards to the others and an excuse to pull away from her.

Foolish worries, perhaps, but valid all the same.]

Let's get them home. And you. Kirkwall needs you.

[iwannabeadragon]

[This doesn't feel right. It feels like he's abandoning her. Hawke never abandons anyway. Why can't things ever just go as planned?]

It always needs me.

[He cups her cheek in his hand. Right now he's having some serious second thoughts about all of this.]

But so do you.

[And he needs her.]