Doom Upon All The World

Chapter 5: Nobility

Varric was used to being recognized. Almost everyone in the Merchant's Guild knew who he was. His parents and extended family owned much of it and ran exceptional businesses all over Thedas. This made him somewhat of royalty to the guild. Still, this mounted to nothing compared to Viscount. He became Viscount not long after the Inquisition. Viscount of a city he loved which made it all the more enjoyable. Kirkwall was Varric's home, his paradise. It may not have been the most pretty or the most well balanced but it was home.

It had done well these last ten years under his leadership. He managed it right, knew how to keep the crime down, knew when to let the crime rise for his benefit, was seen as a man of the people. Varric had been a man of the people in fact. He was citizen of Kirkwall for years before Hawke. He spent most of his time in those days making sure his brother didn't get his dumb ass killed, drinking and playing cards at The Hanged Man, and writing fiction. Of course he preferred to be able to write his version of the truth on things that happened throughout Thedas. There wasn't a major catastrophe that got past him.

Being Viscount had many perks of course. He was a highly regarded diplomat now, nobility in his own right. He could make people over look things with a few words in the right order, put down rebellions and groups of bandits with a few letters to The Merchants Guild, reform the Templars and the Circle in Kirkwall to make it work for both. Varric himself didn't have much say in how either reformed but Sebastian had taken control of the Chantry after it was rebuilt as he was the only member to survive.

He worked with Varric and Hawke to help the Mages and Templars come to an understanding. The Templars aren't just there to protect the people from the Mages but to do the reverse as well as protecting the Mages from themselves. Hawke worked with the Mages and Sebastian with the Templars while Varric supervised, making sure order was kept. In the end, they signed an agreement. This was done under the table of course as the entirety of the Chantry could not know. The Divine and rest of Thedas may not agree. The Mages promised not to rise up against Templar control if they were shown leniency. The Templars didn't care what they had to do. They did not want another fight in which they lose all but a hand full of their numbers.

That was one of the things Varric particularly enjoyed about his job. He was able to bring people together, to forge new alliances with new understandings. Doing so made him feel accomplished and refreshed. He thought perhaps when it was all over and it was time to pass on the crown, he'd write a book about all the trouble he stirred up being Viscount and all rebellions he laid waste to. He also liked that he got the opportunity to work with Hawke again. The woman was everywhere in Kirkwall. She went into fights, fireballs blazing, lightning zipping across the battle field, the ground shaking, the Veil ripping open to tear her foes apart. She was a beast of a Mage.

He'd seen her nearly every other day since becoming Viscount. She would come see him at least once a week, bringing the broody elf with her, and ask him for help with something or offer her own services, or sometimes it was just a friendly visit. They arranged to meet in the Hanged Man for drinks and Wicked Grace at least twice a month but she was often too busy with her Champion duties. They ended up playing and drinking in the keep instead. The look the Seneschal gave him when he walked in on that was priceless.

He supposed Hawke was living the good life now. She was an orphan and she would never see either of her siblings again but she was strong and kept in the company of good people. Fenris took care of her and she took care of him. Varric often looked happily on them. Twelve years and they were still doing just fine. They were good for each other. She made him softer. He was less cruel to Mages and more careful with his words because of her. Varric could see in his eyes that he loved Hawke with everything that he had. He wished he could be better for her though, which was something Varric didn't understand. Hawke loved him the way he was.

Being near them made him think about a time when he thought he might have that life. That time was gone though. He was not some lowly Merchant Prince looking for acceptance anymore. He was a businessman now, a wealthy property owner and the viscount of Kirkwall. Things had changed. He couldn't think about the past now. He had to move forward. A knock came at the door to his office in the keep and he shot up in his chair. The sound shook him from his slumber. He'd fallen asleep reading the guard reports for the week. Ever since Aveline left the reports and the guards themselves had been particularly boring. Nothing big ever happened. Perhaps he should be glad. He was making a difference, shouldn't that please him?

"Come in." Varric called from behind his desk. He sat forward, putting his elbow on the wooden surface, and rested his head in his hand. The Seneschal entered the room, standing to the side as if to let in another. This was something the mellow man did out of habit, whether or not someone was entering behind him was irrelevant. He turned to Varric and did a small bow in respect. The Dwarf chuckled to himself at his effort. It felt ridiculous even after all this time. "Messere, there is a woman here to see you." He said. The Seneschal was a tall man with a big nose and dark hair that hung around his face in slight waves. It was evident he didn't put much effort into it but managed it well enough.

He was a monotonous, quiet, and irritable man and Varric detested him but he found that it was fun to aggravate him and he hated all the other candidates. He put up with him and harassed him when it was appropriate. "She refuses to give me her name and is stubbornly awaiting you in the foyer." He continued with a look of ungodly annoyance. He remembered seeing this look on Seneschal Bran's face many a time before he quit. It was quite the day for the man. Varric laughed. Whoever it was, they certainly knew how to brighten up his day. "Alright, take me to her, Bossy." He got out of his chair as the man shuddered at his nickname.

He didn't like that the Viscount thought of him as bossy but it's what he was. He constantly told Varric where and when he needed to do things and Varric came up with the nickname as easily as he breathes air. "Serah, might I remind you, any business you have with this woman will have to wait until next month. You will be leaving for Halamshiral tomorrow. The gathering is in four days and the journey itself will take three. You cannot afford to get caught up in her-" Varric stopped him as they began walking down the stairs to the foyer. "You don't need to remind me, Bossy. I know when I'm supposed to meet my people. I'll speak with the woman and then go straight home to pack." He told the Seneschal.

He didn't seem pleased with this answer. His jaw hung low in disbelief and aggravation. "You haven't packed yet?!" He nearly yelled but dared not in remembrance of who he was speaking to. Varric only smiled and walked past him, going to meet whoever it was that was here to see him. When he reached the final step, he saw her. There was no denying who she was or that he knew her. He'd waited for this for so long. He'd wanted this for so long. Now the moment was here and he froze in his path. She stood with her back to him, her hood pulled up over her head, her posture rigid and nervous. He smiled then and approached her. "It took me becoming the Viscount of Kirkwall to get you back here." He said and she suddenly froze then turned to face him. Her features were just as soft and beautiful as the last time he'd seen her. Her eyes were dark with guilt and longing, her face stricken by remorse. "Varric, I need your help." She uttered in a melody of slow, desperate syllables. He crossed his arms and shifted his weight as he looked at the Dwarf before him. "It's good to see you too, Bianca."