Chapter Text
“My lady, Varric is here to see you.” Orana shouldered the door open as she talked, carrying in a tray with soup.
“Doesn’t he know I’m sick?” Hawke coughed from where she was propped up in bed.
“I believe that is why he’s here–to keep you company.” She set down the tray and started to help Hawke sit up a little more.
“He’s going to call me kid and want to tell me a story, and I’m just not in the mood.”
“Perhaps this time, he won’t.”
Hawke shot her a look as the door opened again, revealing her friend with a big grin on his face. “How’s it going, kid? Feeling any better?”
Her eyes narrowed at Orana and the elf blushed with a shrug. “I will just leave you two to chat.” She bustled out of the room, leaving Hawke and Varric alone.
“Glad to see you up again.”
“I’m hardly up, Varric.” Hawke coughed out.
“You’re awake, at least. Bodahn was telling me you’ve barely been awake to eat for a couple days.”
“Yeah, it’s an improvement. How’s everyone?”
“Staying out of trouble.” Varric reached into his back and pulled out a pouch and a book. “That’s from Anders, in case you were running low.” He plopped the pouch on her nightstand. “And I brought you something special.”
Hawke does her best to keep a neutral face. “A book?”
“That’s right.” He placed it on her bed and tapped it twice. “And this is a very special book. A story I heard when I was a kid that I eventually wrote and had bound. Never published, just a personal copy for me. It was told to me when I was sick, so I thought I’d read it to you.”
She eyed the book carefully. “Does it have adventure in it?”
His eyes lit up. “Are you kidding? Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Revenge. Giants. Monsters. Griffons. Chases. Escapes. True love. Miracles. What could be better?”
“...Alright, that doesn’t sound too bad.” Hawke grabbed the soup Orana had left and settled against her pillows. “I’ll endeavor to stay awake.”
“ The Watcher Bride , chapter one. Zea Ingellvar was raised within the Mourn Watch, deep inside the Grand Necropolis…”