Into the Woods (a Dragon Age fanfiction)

Knowing Me, Knowing You

"Where is this guy?" Jennie leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. "I told him to meet us here."

The Hanged Man was practically empty this morning. Besides Jennie, Fenris, and Varric, a couple of regulars sat in the corner scraping the bottom of their bowls of mystery stew, a red-headed dwarf in heavy plate was snoring in a chair in front of the fire, and a blond elf with tattoos that looked vaguely Dalish was sipping from a surprisingly delicate teacup. Jennie hadn't known the Hanged Man boasted such fine china.

The rare moment of quiet was interrupted by a delighted cry from the stairs. "Zevran!" Isabela came running down the steps and practically launched herself at the elf, who barely had time to put his teacup down before finding himself with a lap full of very excited pirate.

"Isabela, my dear. To think I should find you in such a ... place."

She grinned at him. "You know I like to be where things are happening."

"Very little seems to be happening here."

"Ah, just wait." Isabela climbed off of the elf's lap. "Let me introduce you to some friends of mine." She took his hand, leading him toward the others. "Zevran Arainai, this is Jennie Hawke, Varric Tethras, and Fenris."

"Zevran Arainai?" Varric sat up straighter in his chair. "From the Blight? You must have some interesting stories."

Jennie noticed a brief flash of something in the elf's eyes before his pleasant mask reset itself. "Indeed I do," Zevran said to Varric. "I would be more than happy to share them with you ... or create some more."

Varric's eyes were twinkling and he seemed about to enter into the badinage, but Jennie had heard enough. "A Blight companion? You must be one of the people Fergus spoke of."

"Yes, I suppose I must." The elf's eyes traveled, very slowly, over Jennie's form. "I see my information exaggerated only slightly. You are much better looking than I had been led to believe."

Jennie rolled her eyes. Her looks were hardly something she was concerned about. "Flattery stops here."

"Ooh, Hawke, you can't say that to Zevran," Isabela said. "If he can't use flattery, he can't talk."

"Then we'll all be better off."

"Ah, you deadly beautiful people. May I say you remind me somewhat of my beloved Warden?"

"Save it," Jennie snapped. "I'll bet you say that to all the girls."

"Oh, no, my dear Champion. That, I do not."

Zevran was about to say more when the door of the Hanged Man opened again, letting a stream of morning light into the dim interior. Anders paused in the doorway, his eyes drawn immediately to the sleeping dwarf. "No. No, no, no. Of all people, why him? Why me?" He crossed the room and stood in front of the dwarf. "Wake up, you big smelly tin can!"

The dwarf came awake with a snort, blinking hard as he smacked his lips together. He looked blearily up at Anders, recognition lighting up his face. "Sparkle-fingers!" A scowl quickly followed the smile, and he stood up, grabbing a handful of the front of Anders's coat. "I have half a mind to bash your head in, leavin' us like that."

"Nice to see you, too, Oghren," Anders squeaked.

"That Justice blighter's in there, too, ain't he? How in the Trenches are ya, Justice? Got yer fill of the mortal realm yet?" Oghren bellowed into Anders's face.