A Princess, a Knight, and an Assassin Walk Into a Tavern...

Clarity

Clarity's instincts took over when everyone started to flee from the General's booming voice, and she turned tale and started to run as well. She had turned the fight from possibly just drunk to bloody, and she wasn't going to stick around to see how that was received. Anyone in her way to the back door received a cut from her leg or her still unsheathed knives.
She stopped cold 8 steps outside the back door of the tavern. Varric. Varric would be thrown in jail or worse... and she refused to leave a person behind. She knew that kind of betrayal and would not see it inflicted on another person as long as she lived. Sparkly grey eyes and lewd jokes were enough to earn the small amount of loyalty Clarity could bestow, and she wasn't really afraid of jail. They'd be out of there in 30 minutes flat this time, and who knows? Maybe she'd end up in one of his over exaggerated stories.
Clarity always made quick decisions and as soon as she was out the door she was back in, a few people's feet the worse for wear for having gotten in her way. She got in just in time to see Hawke chuckle with the pretty girl, in a way that was full of amusement and comfort for the girl, before jumping again into a protective stance. Protecting her from nothing more than Varric's noise, the General about to distribute justice, and the passed out victims on the floor, but he was resolutely protecting, and fell into that roll naturally. Varric was still yelling rude comments, and seemed significantly drunker than he had at their table. She wasn't sure if that was an act, or if he had in fact emptied the bottle in his hands in the last 5 minutes.
When he saw her he grinned a happy sloppy grin and shouted "Pointy! What'd I tell you? Theatrics with you will always lead to someone being impaled! Maker, you leaped over that table like SHOOM!" He made an arcing motion with his arms, and cackled, pleased with himself.
Varric's comment drew Hawke's attention to her, and he grinned. She had been taught a little of reading people, but she was unsure whether a smile could be relieved, broad, and approving at the same time. And why would he feel so many things at one time? Confused and suddenly very aware of herself she gave him a brief tight lipped smile, and turned her attention to the General, who would put a member of the royal family to shame with her manners and commanding air.
Hawke must have been distracted or injured, because suddenly the pretty girl rushed past him towards the man with all the jewelry, who was beginning to sit up. Clarity took the time to count bodies, dead and alive, and inch towards the two men to suggest a quiet and speedy escape when the General apporached with her loud commanding voice. After the General's introduction and praise – Clarity took this as assurance that they would not in fact be arrested – she was grateful that her leg wasn't stuck this time as she felt the sudden need and urge to give a short bow to this woman when she said simply, "Clarity." By was of introduction for the second time that day.
Hawke and Varric then introduced themselves and the General returned a shallow bow to each of them. Jewelry was now on his feet, the girl taking great care and concern for the man's movements Clarity noticed, and the two settled close by and began to reveal a story that meant nothing to her. Ser Beau – as she knew her name now – didn't seem at all surprised by any of it. True she knew the man's name now, Captain West, and she knew there was a royal family with an absurd amount of children, but she couldn't help but feel the whole thing could be quickly cleared up with some good poisons, a well placed scandal, and 3 assassinations...not that she was getting specific, but training told her exactly how this should be handled. She started to distance herself from the pretty, smart, and caring girl who had hidden under her table, as she did her calculations, because in all equations she ended up dead.
Hawke's eyes, however, just became more and more sad as the tale went on, as she glanced at him for the – if she was being honest with herself – third time. Especially when the pair began to bicker about "being equals" and her being a "woman". Like he was sad that this unfortunate circumstance – caused by a pirate, she thought – would soil their eventual and unavoidable love – she was seeing this in Hawke's eyes, not her own - and Hawke seemed to think it was all very tragic. And she could see his back straighten as he seemed obviously determined to do something about it. This move only reminded her of his hardness in battle. He fought a little flamboyantly but his movements were precise, his muscles hard, and his eyes sharp. He left himself vulnerable, getting caught up in the moment, but she couldn't deny he was a fine warrior. Noticing all this from an entirely objective perspective, she told herself. That was just good observation. Hawke caught her looking at him and motioned with his eyes at the "couple" – knowing the pirate would hate that word – as if asking her a question. She simply shrugged. He sent her a questioning look and she immediately looked away; unable to analyze or deal with it at the moment.
When the story finished everyone in the circle was affected by it. Varric was the first to speak after a huge sloppy sniff, "That would make an epic love story. Pirate from a loving home of gypsies, only to turn to a life of crime and freedom, never knowing love. When he meets his love, the princess, he turns onto the straight and narrow. Only then TWIST! To save his beloved family he turns on his love's brother and kidnaps him. Only to grow a conscience too late, trying to redeem himself he loses the hard won boon from his betrayal. Can their love survive his betrayal?! What will become of the gypsies? Why did the princess cut her hair? Find out in Varric Tethras' latest novel The Prince and the Pirate."
Captain West let out a disingenuine bark of a laugh and took a step towards Varric. Hawke stepped quickly between them, "Now now, we've all been through a lot and Varric has had way too much to drink. I'm sorry he's an ass, but maybe we should all reconvene on your boat. The General looks like she wants to ask a question, you need to lie down, and I have a propostion to help your family." Hawke grinned and crossed his arms in front of him. "As solutions go we're not cheap, but I could waive the fee-" This earned a huff from Varric, "and we're incredibly effective. I'll take this slob home, with Clarity's assistance of course." his eyes darted to hers briefly and his ears turned pink "We'll leave this...fine establishment to the guards who will be arriving any second, you two-" He looked very pointedly at the Captain and the princess who had yet to give a name, "will accompany the General to West's ship and wait for us there. You have much to discuss."
Before anyone could even agree Hawke slung the dwarf over his shoulder, the dwarf in question had been drinking throughout the story and after a few lame objections, slumped like a sack of flour against Hawke's back. He started walking and stopped just in front of the door. "I'm serious about the guards, they'll be here any minute. I wouldn't dally." He grinned and blinked one eye at the room. Then turning to Clarity, "M'lady." And held the door open for her. Making what felt like a desperate decision she headed for the door.
Just as she crossed the threshold she heard Captain West's voice, "Does it matter that most of what the dwarf said wasn't the least bit true?"
Hawke just laughed and shook his head, "Not even a little bit. It'll make a damn good story though." And with a last grin at the room he closed the door behind him.
Clarity had been cleaning her dagger and leg on one of the coats from the men Knight Commander Beau had tossed outside. She stood back up when Hawke approached, feeling very conscious of how obvious and strange it looked, cleaning her leg's knife while it struck right out in front of her at 90 degrees. He stopped while she quickly righted herself and said, "It's only a couple blocks. Varric could never be farther than that from a bar." He chuckled again.
She simply nodded her head.
They walked in silence for awhile, the quiet pressing down on both of them. Ravens often worked in complete silence, in fact they were expected to, but this silence didn't seem right. They weren't trying to be quiet, there was simply no noise. The streets were empty this late at night so there was nothing to distract them.
She flicked her eyes over to Hawke when she was sure he wasn't looking, and again liked what she saw, but she didn't know what it was she liked. He was a warrior, but not the only warrior and not the best. He was broad with big hands, he could never be a Raven, his size would only impede him. He also couldn't be a Raven because he showed what he felt. He smiled more often than not and his eyes were like...
"So Clarity..." Hawke began, shifting the dwarf's weight on his shoulder, interrupting her confusing and shameful thoughts, "is it just Clarity, or is there a title I should know about?"
She shook her head, then realizing he wasn't looking answered, "No."
"No, Clarity isn't your only name, or no, that's it?" She could here the smile in his voice.
"Clarity is the only name I was given by the Mothers." She said quickly.
Hawke nodded his head and was quiet for a moment before, "Mothers don't bother with surnames, then?"
She shook her head again and this time he saw it.
He was quiet for another two steps and then, "Garrett." She looked up at him, confused, until he continued, "Garrett is my actual name. I figure it's only fair to be on a first name basis since I have no choice with yours..." They had reached what she assumed was Varric's house now because Hawke was struggling with some keys in the door. Once inside he continued, "Though, I only get called Garrett when I'm in trouble. I prefer just Hawke."
"Just Hawke?" She echoed. He gave her a huge grin as he dropped Varric on a couch in the corner of the room.
"Just Hawke." They sat in silence a moment seeing if Varric would roll off the couch. "I wish we had a blanket or something..." but when nothing was readily available, he shrugged giving her another lopsided grin. They just stood there for a moment like that, until he reached up and rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks and neck turning pink again from the prolonged eye contact. "We'd better get on the road, the others will be waiting."
The blush...maybe that's what she liked?