Clea Hawke had done all Varic had told her Bartrand would ask for. Maps from Anders and enough coin collected from various jobs during her few years in Kirkwall. She gathered a deep breath as she continued in a straight line across the courtyard in Hightown toward the dwarf that had to be Bartrand. She heard the footsteps of Varric, her sister, and Merril behind, boosting her confidence. Hawke was aware that she tended to have an… intimidating presence, but this hid her true, sometimes timid nature. She was a warrior afterall, so courage in battle was not a question and people often stared at the one large blade on her back. Maybe it was also a lack of overt femininity that drew stares: her toned body, lack of figure-accentuating clothing, and thick, sleek, shoulder-length dark brown hair pulled into a low ponytail. No matter her appearance, Clea sensed this dwarf wouldn't care. Heck, he might not even notice.

Hawke was about to speak when Bartrand began speaking, but with his eyes leveled on Varric's. "Varric! Where did you get off to? And what are you planning?"

Varric stepped forward, taking a jovial tone which seemed odd in contract to Bartrand's. However, Varric often responded in a light-hearted manner, no matter the situation which was one of the attributes Hawke valued most in the dwarf. "Bartrand! So suspicious! I have, in fact, brought us our future partner!"

There had been two major reasons why Hawke had agreed to this deal with a dwarf she didn't know. The first was that she needed the coin. There was no denying that. Staying two years with her dead-beat uncle was enough. Her mother and sister deserved more. The second was that, quite frankly, she was getting restless. In Ferelden she was free to explore and move around as she pleased. Kirkwall was so overcroweded and confining. The deep roads weren't exactly an open Ferelden field, but it sure seemed better than remaining cooped up in stuffy Kirkwall forever. What is the worst that could happen? She had thought when making the decision. Now, even though Bartrand appeared shady to say the least, she at least knew Varric had her back. Hawke smiled a little.

"What? Partner? You stupid, nug-humping dirt farmer! Why did you go promising something like that?"

Varric had prepared Clea for a response like this, so she continued to hold her ground next to Varric. "Because if we don't get this expedition moving, Brother, then we won't have any profits to argue about, will we?" Varric had skillfully trapped Bartrand; offering him something he couldn't come up with on his own.

"Hmph," Bartrand goaned, his sign of defeat. "Maybe you have a point."

Silence settled, and Hawke decided not to break it. She assumed this was a rare moment for Varric and didn't want to ruin it. Bartand was the once to break the silence with forcefulness back in his voice, "What I'd love is the coin to back up my brother's confidence. How about it human?"

When Hawke had asked Varric about his brother's plans for the trip, he had mentioned that his brother was not the most honest business man. Hawke could see that now and considered asking Bartrand about what her share would be, but figured that discussing this on the expedition might be better. She wanted to impress him with the coin and map first, then prove her worth on the trip itself. "I do have your coin," she replied, pulling the bag of coins from a loop on her armor and moving it out and down, toward Bartrand."

"You're joking." He appeared genuinely surprised.

Hawke took a breath to respond, but Varric beat her to it. "What did I tell you, Bartrand? Not bad for a human."

Thanks, friend, she thought.

"All right partner. Full share of the profit between you, me, and Varric."

Better than Hawke expected. She nodded, a smile daring to curve her lips.

"Now we just need a decent entrance into the Deep Roads."

The smile crept all the way across her lips. Hawke reached into her gauntlets where she had stored the important papers. "These might be just what we need."

Bartrand gently opened the maps and examined them. "What's this?" he exclaimed, eyebrows high. He looked up from the maps and straight at Hawke, for the first time since meeting her, "Three… four entrances into the Deep Roads, all in the Free Marches? Where did you get these?"

Varric responded immediately, "Did I tell you we could find Grey Warden? Mother did raise a fool. Well… she didn't raise two of them."

Hawke found herself snickering under her breath.

Bartrand turned away from the groups and appeared to ignore the last part of Varric's statement. "Well, color me astounded! We just pick the most promising one and go! Make sure you have all you need, we will be gone for several weeks at least."

Hawke nodded in affirmation.

"Let me know as soon as you are ready and we'll head out," Bartrand added eagerly. Hawke turned to leave, sharing a meaningful glance with Varric, when she heard Bartrand's voice once again. "Oh and human, this is a limited-crew expedition. We are only taking who and what we really need. That means you can only take… three others besides yourself," he had one arm crossed over his chest with that hand resting in the crook of his other arm, and the hand of that arm was tapping an indistinguishable beat onto his bearded chin.

Hawke had turned back to face the dwarf, "Whatever it takes to let me go with you. Does Varric count as one of my three?"

"Of course. He certainly doesn't count as one of mine." Bartrand snorted and walk away with a few of his men how had been present with him.

Once Bartrand was out of earshot and Hawke and her group were walking back toward Lowtown, Hawke said to no one in particular, "The brotherly love is so thick in the air I can barely breathe."

Varric chuckled. "I guess not all of us can have great relationships with our siblings," he looked at both Bethany and Clea who walked side by side. All three shared a smile.

"Batrand didn't seem like a very kind brother to me, "Merril chimed in with her Dalish-elf lilt.

"Hawke was using sarcasm, Daisy," Varric informed the elf with a smile. Varric's words however did not seem to erase the confused look on Merril's face.

Bethany stepped ahead to walk side-by-side with Merril to again explain the basics of sarcasm. Varric had told Bethany not to bother a couple of weeks ago, stating that maybe it was better to have the innocence of a child, but Bethany hadn't agreed, saying that Merril had to have enough street smarts to feel confident and stay safe in Kirkwall. Varric remained beside Hawke. "Thanks for taking me with you. Or, at least it sounds like you wanted to. Looks like you've got no way out of it now."

"Of course I am taking you, Varric. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be going on this expedition in the first place. Plus, it is your flesh-and-blood brother who is leading it. And, where would I be without my trusty dwarf?" Hawke saw this bring a smile to his face. After first meeting him, she had quickly been able to join in with his sarcasm and witty banter. She had really appreciated all of the advice and friendship he had provided over the last few years, waiting for her to prepare for this trip.

"Probably stuck in your dead-beat uncle's house forever."

Hawke snorted, looking ahead. "I am very much looking forward to this chapter of my life to be over. And ready to get out of Kirkwall."

"You can say that again. Though I will miss the Hanged Man…"

"What do you say we have a celebration tonight? Before we leave tomorrow. Maybe I can announce then who will be going with us."

"So you know who else you are going to take?" Varric inquired, looking up at her.

Hawke continued to stare straight forward. "Not a clue."