Varric really liked Firecracker, he really did, but she set off all of his Damsel in Distress alarms. Even more than Merrill - at least Merrill could light things on fire. So really, it was in her best interests that he was following her into the huge estate. It looked like it would've even been out of place in Hightown. A fountain? Really? He figured he could at least nick some things while he was in there. A dwarf had to stay in practice.
He'd noticed that she was tailing some sort of hotshot, and managed to chat up the people to figure out their schedule. With his new status, it wasn't hard to find out that they were going to a fancy party. That would be when Lois would infiltrate. He trailed in after some help that were going in and out of the house, picking her out easily. She was the only one going upstairs. And that outfit is just not practical for cleaning anything except more official knobs. I hope they don't do that here. I hope she's not doing that here.
He waited at the base of the stairway, crouched down into a shadow created by a large planter. Uh-oh. Some huge guys were going into the room that Firecracker had been spending time in. And uh oh, she was making up terrible excuses. This was why Varric was glad that his jacket was big enough to hide Bianca. It was also why he was doubly glad that he'd been brought into this world with Bianca in his arms. (Yes, he slept with his crossbow, why do you ask? Stop looking at him like that, Reader, you would too if you had a girl half as gorgeous.)
With the gorgeous Damsel with the fantastic legs screaming up the stairs, the dashing hero - Varric, obviously - leaped into action. Taking the stairs two by two, he popped Bianca open as he entered the room. Lois' back was to the door, so she couldn't see the reason why the huge guy looked terrified, but soon enough she'd figure it out. A huge crossbow bolt sticking out of his shoulder was a good enough answer. Lunging forward, Varric put his jacket around Lois' shoulders and leveled the gun at the bleeding man on the floor, hitting him hard with the butt of it before taking the bolt out of his shoulder. Crossbow bolts didn't just grow on trees. ... well, sure, trees were an important part of them, but they didn't just sprout up fully made.
"C'mon." Varric put Bianca onto his shoulder in case her help was needed again, and wrapped an arm around Lois' waist. "You got what you came for?"