"We'll stay here tonight," Hawke said setting her pack down in the clearing. The small circle in the forest wouldn't be easily detected. "I'll take first watch," she said to her companions as she unstrapped her staff from her back. Those were the first words she had spoken since they had fled Kirkwall. The others stared after her as she walked in to the forest.
As she walked through the trees a little way away from the camp she finally had a chance to clear her head. The question wasn't what had gone wrong, that was painfully obvious. She wanted to know why she hadn't been able to see it coming. Had she been so blinded by her love for Anders that she hadn't thought him capable of doing something like this?
"No," Hawke whispered to herself. It wasn't Anders it was Justice. But even as she thought it she didn't believe it. I'll just have to give him a chance to explain it's not like we've even had time to talk. Maker's breath, am I crazy? He blew up the Chantry! There shouldn't be anything to explain.
She stalked angrily past the small camp again, briefly looking at the few friends who had come with her. What had today cost her? How many of her friends would she have to say good bye to because of Anders? Fenris had flat out refused to come with them, saying he could no longer fight for a cause he didn't support. All Hawke had been able to do was thank him for standing with her when she needed him. It had been harder to say good bye to Aveline, Hawke could see her friend toying with the idea of running with her. But in the end duty won and Aveline felt it would be wrong to leave Kirkwall, someone had to stay and keep the peace. Aveline had given Hawke a tight squeeze of a hug and made her promise to try to keep in touch. A silent handshake with Donnic and Hawke ran down the steps leading to the Harbor from the Gallows.
Not to mention there was Sebastian's threat of retribution still hanging above them. Hawke had no idea how long it would take Sebastian to gather any type of force against them but she wanted to be as far away from Starkhaven as possible. Right now she didn't even have a plan, they'd been running for past day trying to put enough distance between them and Kirkwall. They only reason she had suggested they make camp for a night was so they could come up with a plan. Hawke groaned and ran a hand through her hair, for now she would just clear her head and talk to her friends when her watch was over.
Over at the campsite tensions were running high. "No," Anders insisted, his voice barely above a whisper. "We do not need a fire, Carver." The mage sat slightly away from the others.
Carver glared at Anders from where he knelt over the small fire pit he had dug. "When I want your opinion I will ask," he said harshly. He struck his flint, ignoring Anders.
"Anders is right," Isabela said to Carver putting her hand on his to stop him. "A fire will just draw unnecessary attention."
Merrill muttered a few words to herself and waved her staff, a small green spell wisp appeared over her. "Will this help?" she asked, smiling at her friends.
Varric shook his head and chuckled. "Green light is a little more noticeable than firelight, Daisy. But thank you for trying to help." He patted her on the knee as she dismissed the glowing orb. "We won't even need a fire. Hawke's not going to want to stay here for more than a few hours."
"Oh yes," Carver rolled his eyes. "We always do what my sister wants, how could I forget?" He had kicked the dirt back over the fire pit. Sitting down directly across from Anders and began to sharpen his sword. "I don't know what she plans on doing but I'm only here until she can get a safe distance from Kirkwall. I have to get back to the Wardens." He lifted his whetstone from his blade, and stared at Anders. "I'm not going to abandon my duties to them."
"You can't say anything to make me hate myself more than I already do." Anders couldn't look at Carver as he spoke or he would lose his grip on Justice. "But I would strongly suggest you keeping your thoughts to yourself."
The others looked between Anders and Carver, everything around them was silent. "Five silvers say he snaps," Isabela whispered to Varric tossing a coin purse on the ground.
"Blondie or Little Hawke?" Varric turned a laugh into a cough. "Ten says the next words from Carver's mouth get his head ripped off." Merrill stood with her staff ready just in case she had to stop one of them.
"My sister may have spared your life but there are very few others who would. Even Aveline would have you in chains." Carver stood his hand tightening around the grip of his sword. "If it weren't for her you would not be here now."
Anders looked ready to explode; his knuckles were white from how hard he clenched his staff. "I am aware of that," his voice sounded dead. "She should have killed me." His eyes had just started to glow blue and Carver dropped into a battle stance when they were knocked to the ground.
"Down boys," Hawke walked between them. She quickly cast a paralysis glyph on Anders just to be sure Justice couldn't take control. "From now on you two are not to speak to each other. We are not children and I am not going to tolerate bickering."
Carver glared at his sister and pushed himself off the ground. "I'll take the watch," he sheathed his sword and stomped into the forest.
Her spell wore off Anders but he still was fighting for control. "Using magic is not the best way to get my attention," he said through gritted teeth.
"I wasn't trying to get your attention," Hawke said trying to keep the edge out of her voice. "I was trying to prevent you and Carver from killing each other." She strapped her staff to her back, and turned her attention toward Varric and Isabela. "And the two of you are betting on it?" She wasn't sure whether to be angry or amused. Sighing, Hawke shook her head. "We should try to get some rest."