A Fishing Trip
Spring and summer were passing all too quickly in Lothering. Hawke, Mira, and David had become the go to when there was a wildlife problem in the village, or when someone wanted their house painted. Captain Isherwood had even hired the trio to help with the Midsummer festivities since they were too young or too old to partake in many of them. She was almost sad to be leaving her friends.
"You're going to Denerim already?" David grabbed her pack, securing it to Red, and Hawke rolled her eyes at the chivalrous deed.
"Yeah. Papa plays at the palace for the winter season every year and I translate for any foreign dignitaries. But we are making a stop at Lake Calenhad first to go fishing."
Mira sighed longing. "I wish I could go. I've always wanted to go to a city."
Hawke grinned. "Denerim is nice and all but I want to go to Val Royeaux. That's a city. Or Kirkwall!"
"Why Kirkwall?" David asked as he tried to take Beth's pack from her and she ducked under the horse with it. Red stomped at him in warning so he followed her warily.
"It's where mama's family is from." She strapped on the pack. "I have grandparents there, they are nobles. I could be a new person there, work as an ambassador or maybe they have a library."
David chuckled. "I could see you as an ambassador, you have the experience trading with the Chasind. You would get bored sitting in books all the time."
"Why would you do that when you could be a noble?" Mira's nose wrinkled. "Why are you here and poor?"
Hawke's hand froze before tightening the girth and David scowled at Mira. "Because my parents married without their permission and they eloped." She swallowed hard.
Mira cooed. "That's so romantic." David shook his head and patted Hawke's shoulder. "Promise you'll write?"
"Promise you'll write back? Both of you?"
"Yes!" David grabbed both the girls in a bone crushing hug. "We'll miss you, Hawke."
Mira's mother called. The redhead plastered a kiss on Hawke's cheek. "I'll make sure your ma and Carver eat." She ran off to see what the ruckus was.
David settled his other hand on Hawke's shoulder, dwarfing her frame. Mira always acted her age, it was easy to forget that the blue eyes staring up at him now were younger by a couple years. He licked his lips. "Is Bethany going to be okay going with you?"
She nodded. "Papa knows how to hide in plain sight, she's been doing it for years too." She wrapped her hand around his and leaned against them, a smile on her face. "I'll keep them safe otherwise."
He ran a thumb along her cheekbone, she had filled out from the half-starved waif that had appeared the past spring under his mother's careful eye. She was growing into a beautiful woman, who was already gently bruising hearts with her quiet disinterest. "I know. But who will keep you safe?"
Her grin widened. "Red." She grew serious a moment and then wrapped him in a full hug. "We will be fine, David. I'll write as soon as we get the lake and again at every town. But thank you for worrying."
"Are you ever going to tell Mira?" He spoke into her hair; she was already so much smaller than he was. She shook her head. "Why?"
She sighed tiredly. "Her da made some comments about people like papa and Beth and she agreed with him." She shrugged. "She's my friend, but sometimes you can't even trust friends."
She wanted to smack the pity from his eyes and then grind it in to the dirt but he grabbed her up again in another hug. "You've got me, Hawke. And I'll keep your secrets." He released her with a grin. "Besides, what would I do without your cookies?"
She snorted. "You won't get fat this winter."
"I make them. She just stands there and looks pretty." Bethany huffed out of the house with their father trailing behind her. "Rose can't cook to save her life unless it's an egg and toast."
"Brat." Hawke mussed her hair with a grin.
"Giant butt."
"Potato."
"Girls." Malcolm managed to sternly reprimand them before ducking behind his horse to shake his head with a silent laugh. "Are we ready to go, Hawke?"
She tossed her hair back over her shoulder. "Yeah, papa. David helped."
He shook the young man's hand, wondering how many years he'd have before he was knocking on his door to ask for Hawke's hand at the Chantry. "Thank you, serah."
The boy grinned. "Good fishing, Messere Hawke." He half turned away and then flushed to his ears before asking Hawke. "Want a boost?"
She eyed him warily and then leapt into the saddle. She gazed down at him. "I could kick you in the head from up here." Malcolm figured at least another two years and then she broke into an easy grin at the boy's crestfallen face. "But you could hand up Beth, Red can carry us better then Charger. And she is too little to reach." Malcolm smiled warmly as he mounted his horse.
"Yeah, but she isn't you." He mumbled towards her knee. When he turned to Bethany he had a smile and a sparkle in his eye. "Up you go, brat." He tossed her up easily in front of Hawke, his fingers lingering a moment on Hawke's hip that she ignored.
Leandra called tearfully from the door. "Mind your father, Bethany. See you in the spring." Malcolm rode the horse right to the door and bent low to give her one last kiss that left her smiling.
They started to ride away and David climbed up on the fence. "Remember to write!"
Hawke turned and waved. "You remember to write back!"